Allianz Trade has announced several changes to its board of management for the Northern Europe region, with three new appointments taking effect in July and August.
Benoit Semelin (pictured above, left) has been named regional chief financial and administrative officer (CFAO), succeeding Sébastian Rageot, who has become CEO for the Nordics at Allianz Trade. Semelin, who joined Allianz Trade in 2003 as controlling manager for the French entity, has held a series of CFO roles in Paris, Turkey, and most recently, the Asia Pacific region.
He will now be based in Brussels, where he is expected to apply his financial background to support the company’s operations across Northern Europe.
Sorina Eremia (pictured above, middle) has taken on the position of regional credit director, following the appointment of Matt Williams as CEO for the UK and Ireland. Eremia, who has been with Allianz Trade since 2006, has led underwriting teams in Central and Eastern Europe, the UK and Ireland, and Benelux. Her new responsibilities include overseeing the credit segment strategy for the Northern Europe region.
Craig Ironside (pictured above, right) has been appointed regional commercial director, succeeding Rodrigo Jimenez, who has moved to the role of CEO for the Asia Pacific region.
Ironside, who returns to the UK after more than 25 years with Allianz Trade, has held commercial leadership roles at both regional and global levels, including his most recent position as group head of commercial underwriting and product development in Paris. He will now be based in London and will oversee the commercial functions for the Northern Europe region.
Marine Bochot, head of Northern Europe Region at Allianz Trade, noted that the company is able to fill these key positions internally, with each successor having more than 20 years of experience at Allianz Trade.
“I congratulate and look forward to working with Benoit, Sorina and Craig,” Bochot said, adding that she also extends her thanks and best wishes to Sébastien, Matt and Rodrigo as they take on new roles within the company.
Allianz Trade’s leadership changes in Northern Europe are part of a broader pattern of executive transitions across the company’s global operations. In June, Allianz Trade announced that James Daly, CEO of Allianz Trade in the Americas, has retired. Sarah Murrow, currently CEO of Allianz Trade in the UK & Ireland, has succeeded Daly, pending regulatory approval. The company also indicated that Murrow’s successor in the UK & Ireland will be named later in the year.
Allianz Trade has also announced a leadership transition in its reinsurance division. Benoît des Cressonnières, the company’s global head of reinsurance and CEO of Euler Hermes Reinsurance AG, is set to retire at the end of September 2025.
Philippe Dessèvre, currently CFO of Allianz Trade in DACH, will succeed him effective October, pending regulatory approval.
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