Press release | October 9, 2025
Christophe Zaniewski appointed Managing Director of Allianz Commercial France
Allianz Commercial announces the appointment of Christophe Zaniewski (56) as Managing Director for France, effective 1st of April 2026. Based in Paris, he will report directly to Dirk Vogler, Chief Regions Officer International at Allianz Commercial. Christophe will work closely with Deputy Managing Director Frédéric Baccelli to oversee insurance activities for medium-sized companies, large corporations and specialty risks in France.
He succeeds Patrick Thiels, who will take on the newly created role of Chief Client Officer for the EMEA region, where he will lead the customer management strategy for continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Patrick will also report to Dirk Vogler and will continue in his current role as Managing Director until Christophe takes up his new position in 2026.
Christophe Zaniewski has been Chief Executive Officer of AIG France, Belgium and Luxembourg since 2020. Before that, he was CEO for AIG France from 2016 to 2020. Christophe has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and began his career in finance at Salustro-Reydel and Aviva before joining AIG in 2002. Christophe held several senior finance positions in Paris, New York and Frankfurt before becoming Chief Financial Officer for AIG France, Belgium and Luxembourg in 2012 and then Director of Operations for Western Europe in 2014. He is a graduate of ESC Montpellier and CHEA (Centre des hautes études d'assurances).
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About Allianz Commercial
Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world’s largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry, as well as family-owned and medium enterprises, which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions.
Powered by the employees, financial strength, and network of the world’s #1 insurance brand Allianz, as ranked by Interbrand, we work together to help our customers prepare for what’s ahead: They trust us to provide a wide range of traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and multinational services as well as seamless claims handling.
The trade name Allianz Commercial brings together the large corporate insurance business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) and the commercial insurance business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities serving mid-sized companies. We are present in over 200 countries and territories either though our own teams or the Allianz Group network and partners. In 2025, the integrated business of Allianz Commercial generated around €17,3 billion in gross premium globally.
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