New regional engineering manager starts job; global head of marine for Europe and Asia-Pacific role changes hands

Today is Chris van Gend’s first day at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s (AGCS) Singapore office in his new role as engineering manager for Asia.

Van Gend will be responsible for engineering underwriting across the region, something he should be comfortable with having held a range of energy, construction and marine underwriting roles in Australia and Singapore.

Prior to joining AGCS, Chris was head of the Asia Pacific hub for Catlin’s energy and construction lines of business. There he was responsible for the development, management and underwriting of the onshore energy and construction portfolios in the region.

AGCS is targeting growth for its engineering business across Asia and already insures risks in sectors such as construction, renewable energy, power and utilities, oil and gas, heavy industries, and major heavy civil engineering and infrastructure projects.

In other Allianz news, it has been announced that global head of marine for Europe and Asia-Pacific Volker Bergeest will retire in September 2014, and that Paul O’Neill will take on this position in addition to his current role as global head of energy.

O’Neill’s change of role will take effect on 1 January 2014. This will be followed by a handover period during which he will work closely with Bergeest.