Press release -
Isabella Von Mesterhazy takes up the reins as Managing Director for Allianz UK Specialty business
Allianz UK has today announced that Isabella Von Mesterhazy has been appointed Managing Director for its Specialty business, effective 1 December 2024, subject to regulatory approval. This appointment follows the decision by incumbent MD for Specialty Kieran O’Keeffe to retire at the end of the year.
In this role Bella will lead the specialty business, which comprises Petplan, Petplan Equine and LV= Pet, and will report directly to Colm Holmes, CEO Allianz UK, as a member of the Allianz UK Executive Committee. Allianz’s combined pet businesses make it the UK’s largest pet insurer.
Allianz Specialty is an important arm of the UK business and has achieved consistently strong performance figures throughout 2024 and in previous years. Established over 48 years ago, Petplan is the UK’s number one pet insurer, insuring over 1.3 million pets and supporting 1,200 animal charities.
Since Bella joined in 2011 as head of marketing and sales for Petplan and Allianz Pet, through to her most recent role as director of trading for Allianz Specialty, she has been instrumental in brand development and change. Ensuring that, at all touchpoints, the customer and their beloved pets are at the heart of the specialty business.
Colm Holmes, CEO, Allianz UK, said “It’s fantastic news that Bella has taken up the reins for the specialty arm of Allianz. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry to this role and I look forward to working with her within our executive committee.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to say a final farewell and thank you to Kieran, we’re deeply appreciative of his contributions and the positive impact he has had on our business.”
Commenting on her appointment Bella said: “Within my time at Petplan I have seen first hand the knowledge and dedication of the Petplan team in assisting our customers and their pets, often in difficult and stressful times, where their compassion and care shines through.
“I look forward to continuing the momentum in moving the brand forward and ensuring that our customers remain at the heart of the business.”
Kieran O’Keeffe will retire at the end of 2024, ensuring a smooth transition of the pet business. A recruitment process is now underway for the director of trading for Allianz Specialty and will be announced in due course.
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About Allianz Holdings plc
Allianz Holdings plc is the non-regulated holding company which owns the principal insurance operations of Allianz SE in Great Britain including Allianz Insurance.
About Allianz
The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with around 125 million* private and corporate customers in nearly 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 741 billion euros** on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 1.8 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2023, over 157,000 employees achieved total business volume of 161.7 billion euros and an operating profit of 14.7 billion euros for the group.
* Including non-consolidated entities with Allianz customers.
**As of June 30, 2024.
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