Markus Hongler

CEO of Zurich Insurance Public Limited Company (ZIP)

Markus Hongler (born 1957, Swiss Citizen) is a member of the Group Management Board of Zurich Financial Services Ltd (Zurich) and is CEO of Zurich Insurance Public Limited Company (ZIP).

Markus Hongler joined Zurich in Barcelona, Spain, in 1983 and held various positions in international business. In 1987 he was appointed to the position of Account Executive within the International Business Division of Zurich Switzerland, involving a move to Group Head Office in Zurich. In 1990 he also took over the role of Sales Manager for this business unit. In 1994 he was appointed Marketing Manager for Large Corporates at Zurich Switzerland. As a Member of Executive Management at Zurich Switzerland, Markus Hongler was promoted to Head of the "Direct" strategic business unit in 1997, of which both the former Züritel (Zurich's direct insurance business unit in Switzerland) and the former Zurich Invest Bank formed part. In 2001 Markus Hongler was appointed CEO of Continental Europe Corporate (CEC) and, as such, was responsible for developing Zurich's first international business unit. After the launch of a global unit for corporate business in April 2004, he was CEO Global Corporate in Europe until December 2005. From January, 2006 until December, 2008, Markus Hongler was CEO of Zurich Switzerland. In May 2008 he has been appointed CEO of Zurich Insurance Public Limited Company (ZIP). This appointment became effective January 1, 2009.

Mr. Hongler is vice chairman of the Swiss Insurance Association and also member of the board of Deutsche Bank (Switzerland).

Markus Hongler received his commercial diploma from the Kaufmännische Berufsschule Luzern and owns a degree as federal insurance expert.