Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has promoted Mike Hansen to global head of aviation.

He succeeds Henning Haagen, who was appointed northeast zone executive for North America earlier this year and has been performing both roles in the interim.

Hansen will report to AGCS board member and chief underwriting officer (CUO) for specialty Paul O’Neill and will be based in London once he has relocated from Canada later this year.

He will be responsible for leading the overall aviation underwriting strategy, with the aviation business accounting for seven percent of the AGCS’s overall EUR7.6bn of global gross written premiums in 2016.

Hansen joined AGCS in June 2016, heading up the US, Canadian and Mexican aviation business. The carrier said that a successor for this position will be announced in due course and that Hansen will maintain responsibility for both the global and North American markets whilst a replacement is found.

Prior to joining AGCS, Hansen was deputy CUO at XL Catlin Aerospace. He has also held underwriting positions at AIG and Markel.

“I look forward to working with Mike managing our aviation business in a challenging market environment and making the most of opportunities in the months ahead. I am confident this will be a smooth transition,” remarked O’Neill.