Team size: >200 FTEs

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

I proactively manage legal risks during periods of instability by ensuring clear guidance, continuous monitoring, and strong collaboration with stakeholders. My focus is on enabling and empowering the organization to navigate challenging times with resilience – providing practical advice / empowerment, anticipating issues / risks, and taking the lead where needed, always aligned with Zurich’s and my personal values and commitment to our stakeholders.

General counsel often speak of the need to be strategic to reach the pinnacle of the profession. What does being strategic mean to you?

Being strategic as General Counsel means looking beyond day-to-day legal issues to anticipate future risks and opportunities for the business. It’s about aligning legal priorities / compliance with Zurich’s overall business goals, proactively guiding leadership decisions, and enabling sustainable growth. Strategic thinking also involves fostering a vision (+5/10 years), culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and resilience throughout the organisation.

We are currently living through a time of geopolitical change, and the world order that we have come to take for granted for many years is being rewritten. Does this affect your company’s risk profile and, if so, what are you doing to mitigate this?

Absolutely. The shifting geopolitical landscape has a direct impact on both the insurance industry and Zurich’s risk profile, including significant legal and regulatory considerations. As an insurer, we continuously reassess and adapt our risk models to address evolving political, regulatory and economic developments.

We proactively monitor regulatory changes and emerging legal risks, ensuring compliance while advising the business on appropriate mitigation strategies. We maintain robust governance frameworks, work closely with local experts and diversify our portfolios to balance risk exposure effectively.

Clear communication with customers, business partners and other stakeholders remains a priority, helping to promote stability and resilience for both Zurich and the customers we serve.