Swiss Re has tapped Allianz’s Andreas Berger as the new CEO of its Corporate Solutions business.

He succeeds Agostino Galvagni, who the reinsurer said had decided to step down from the role at the end of the year having led the Corporate Solutions unit since October 2010 and having been at Swiss Re for more than 30 years.

Swiss Re said that Galvagni will remain as an advisor to Swiss Re until Berger takes the reins on 1 April 2019.

Berger moves to Swiss Re from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty where he most recently served as chief regions and markets officer and a member of the board of management, focusing on growing the business across Germany and Central and Eastern Europe, Mediterranean and Africa.

Before that, he held various leadership positions at Allianz Group, including CEO of its London region unit from 2009 to 2011 and global head of market management and communication from 2006 to 2009.

Swiss Re chairman Walter Kielholz commented: “We regret Agostino Galvagni's decision to step down, and I would like to thank him on behalf of the Swiss Re board of directors for his substantial contribution to Swiss Re throughout the years.”

“Under his leadership, Corporate Solutions has grown significantly and evolved into a fully-fledged commercial insurer with global presence. Thanks to its recent entrance into the primary lead market-segment, Corporate Solutions is also ideally placed for further growth.”

He added: “With Andreas Berger's appointment, we are pleased to have attracted a very capable candidate with a strong track record in the insurance industry to continue leading our Corporate Solutions' business and further improve its international business capabilities.”