Appointments to senior positions in Global Corporate and Group Reinsurance

Zurich, December 6, 2005 – Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) announced the appointments of Thomas Hürlimann to Chief Operating Officer in the Global Corporate business division and Mike Kerner to Head of Group Reinsurance. Both appointments are effective January 1, 2006.

Thomas Hürlimann (age 42) will join Global Corporate as Chief Operating Officer (COO), reporting to Geoff Riddell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Corporate business division. In this new position, he will focus on the division’s International and Global Energy businesses. He will also work with Geoff Riddell on strategy development and key initiatives of the office of the division CEO. Thomas Hürlimann joined Zurich as Head of Group Reinsurance in 2003 from Swiss Re where he served in several executive positions. He has been strengthening and expanding the internal reinsurance function across the Group.

Mike Kerner (age 39) will succeed Thomas Hürlimann as Head of Group Reinsurance. Mike Kerner joined Zurich in 1992. As Head of ceded reinsurance in the North America Commercial (NAC) business division since 2002, he has made significant improvements to the Group’s reinsurance programs and processes, ensuring greater alignment with Zurich's business and capital management strategies. He currently also functions as COO of the NAC Specialties business. Reporting to John Amore, CEO General Insurance, Mike Kerner will continue the restructuring of Group Reinsurance that was begun under Thomas Hürlimann.