HDI Global will appoint Thomas Kropp (pictured above) as chief operating officer and chief information officer from July 1, as the Talanx-owned industrial insurance carrier reshapes its executive board around its Xcelerate29 strategy.
Kropp succeeds Dr Thomas Kuhnt, who is stepping down on 30 June 2026 to pursue an opportunity outside the Talanx Group, the German group said.
"I would like to extend a warm welcome to Thomas Kropp and look forward to working with him in this strategically important area," said Torsten Leue, chief executive of Talanx AG and chair of the HDI Global supervisory board, in a statement.
Leue also thanked Kuhnt for his commitment, saying he and the board "have set key strategic directions that have positioned HDI Global as a leading international Corporate & Specialty insurer."
Kropp arrives with more than two decades of leadership across the insurance and technology sectors, having overseen global IT, infrastructure and operations at international firms in the United States, Asia and Europe.
"With Thomas Kropp, we are gaining an experienced leader who has successfully delivered operational transformations in globally organised companies," said Dr Edgar Puls, chief executive of HDI Global SE and Talanx AG board member for Corporate & Specialty.
Puls added that Kropp's expertise would help reinforce cross-border structures and "sustainably enhance the technological foundation" of the business.
The Xcelerate29 framework, unveiled earlier this year, identifies the United States as the carrier's primary growth target through 2029, with Puls previously describing the market as "a central lever for growth."
The plan also targets Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with a push into aviation, crisis management, surety and credit lines, supported by a "human driven – AI powered" model spanning more than 175 countries.
Kuhnt has held responsibility at HDI Global for eight years, a period that saw the advancement of digital transformation, pricing and international programmes. Puls said the carrier had developed into "one of the leading global Corporate & Specialty insurers" during his tenure.
"What convinced me was the combination of corporate culture, momentum and high performance," Kropp said of his decision to join, adding that he wanted to advance digital transformation alongside teams worldwide, with a focus on client and broker outcomes.
Kuhnt's former remit will be reshaped into a dedicated COO/CIO function under Kropp, while AI will move under the chief executive's remit, with the AI unit consolidated under Puls.
Dr Renate Strasser will add pricing and analytics, company-wide guidance, and the global accident and health business to her specialty responsibilities.
Dr Mukadder Erdönmez takes on the strategic US market alongside his liability, cyber and motor fleet duties, while Dr Dirk Höring assumes captive services in addition to property, engineering, marine and HDI Risk Consulting.
David Hullin will pick up international programmes, and Dr Barbara Klimaszewski-Blettner will oversee the DACH region after adding Austria and Switzerland to her German responsibilities, alongside people and culture.
Dr Stefan Pasternak retains his role as chief financial officer at the insurance group. The reshuffle remains subject to approval by Germany's BaFin financial regulator.
