Zurich Appoints Kath, Barnes to New Claims Positions

Zurich Financial Services announced changes in the claims division of its global corporate and European General insurance units.

Jutta Kath, 47, who is currently Chief Claims Officer for Global Corporate, has been appointed to the position of Chief Claims Officer for Europe General Insurance, effective December 1, 2007. She will oversee the claims operations in ten European countries where Zurich writes personal lines and small and midsize commercial business. Kath, a German citizen, will be based in Zurich and will report to Annette Court, CEO Europe General Insurance, and Christian Orator, Zurich’s Global Chief Claims Officer, and will be based in Zurich, Switzerland.

Chris Barnes, a 47 year-old American, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Claims Field Operations for North America Commercial, will succeed Kath as Chief Claims Officer for Global Corporate, effective December 1, 2007. He will oversee the claims function for the Global Corporate in Europe business unit and continue to collaborate with the claims functions of North America Commercial, International Businesses and Europe General Insurance. Barnes will have a busy time of it, as he will be based in Zurich, as well as Philadelphia and New York City. He will report to Geoff Riddell, CEO Global Corporate Business, and Christian Orator, Zurich’s Global Chief Claims Officer.

Kath joined Zurich as Chief Claims Officer for Global Corporate on March 1, 2007. Prior to that she had led the group reinsurance general insurance unit at the Winterthur Group and held several global underwriting, claims management and operational positions at Zurich Re/Converium, Hannover Re and HDI. She holds a law degree from the University of Regensburg, Germany, and is a qualified lawyer, having studied for part of her degree in legal education in the US at Tulane School, New Orleans.

Barnes has over 25 years of insurance experience. He joined Zurich as Senior Vice President of Claims Field Operations for North America Commercial in 2003. Prior to that, he held a variety of positions with Reliance Insurance in both claims and staff legal and with CIGNA/ACE USA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law and is a graduate of the Duquesne University. He also completed the Advanced Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.

Source: Zurich – www.zurich.com