After 18 years at Swiss insurer Baloise, CEO Gert De Winter is stepping down this summer. His successor will be the long-time head of the Swiss insurance business and former trainee.
Gert De Winter has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer at Swiss insurer Baloise, a position he held since 2016. Michael Mueller has been tapped as his successor and takes over as group CEO on July 1, according to a statement Wednesday.
Mueller has been with the Basel-based insurer since 1997, holding diverse finance roles at the group level and the Switzerland unit. He became CEO of the Swiss business in 2011 and is also vice president of the Swiss Insurance Association (SIA) and on the Swiss Employers Association (SAV) board.
Departing on Own Terms
De Winter is leaving the company at his request, saying «the decision to leave Baloise was not an easy one but, in the wake of events in my personal life over the past twelve months, I am certain that now is the right time to realign the priorities in my life.»
From Trainee to CEO
«Michael has got to know the insurance business from the ground up, and the fact that a former Baloise management trainee is now taking charge of the Company is a testament to our long-term focus on developing the next generation of employees in preparation for the future. Michael represents continuity but will also provide impetus to take the Company forward in his new role,» said Baloise Chairman Thomas von Planta.
The decision is subject to the approval of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). The process to find a successor to head up Switzerland is expected to begin at the end of January 2023.
