Allianz Commercial has appointed Emma Woolley as President Global Specialty and UK Region, subject to regulatory approval.
Woolley will join the Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE Board of Management. She will report organisationally to Thomas Lillelund, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Commercial.
Her remit will cover Allianz Commercial’s Global Specialty Lines of Business and its UK operations.
The role combines responsibility for a major growth segment with oversight of one of Allianz Commercial’s largest insurance markets. Allianz said the appointment supports its plans to expand specialty insurance globally and strengthen its position in the UK.
Woolley will work with Allianz Commercial’s regional presidents on further development of the group’s specialty portfolio across international markets.
She will also work closely with Chief Underwriting Officer Vanessa Maxwell Neverton and Chief Distribution Officer Jeremy Sharpe.
Woolley will join Allianz after completing her current professional commitments, no later than February 2027.
Thomas Lillelund said Woolley’s experience in specialty underwriting and the UK commercial insurance market fits Allianz Commercial’s growth plans.
“Our clear ambition is to be the most trusted commercial insurer in the market,” Lillelund said.
He added that Woolley brings extensive leadership experience, specialist underwriting expertise and a strong understanding of the UK market.
The appointment of Emma, as a leading figure in the global Specialty and UK market, bringing extensive leadership and specialty underwriting experience, together with a deep understanding of the UK markets, reinforces our commitment to this goal and to delivering the best possible service for all our stakeholders.
He added that Allianz Commercial was pleased to bring Woolley into its leadership team and looked forward to working with her.
The appointment gives one executive responsibility for both Allianz Commercial’s global specialty business and UK market operations, linking international specialty expansion with local distribution and underwriting priorities.
Emma has almost 30 years of experience in the insurance industry with a career spanning executive leadership, underwriting, compliance, governance and broking. She joins Allianz Commercial from Talbot Underwriting, AIG’s Lloyd’s Specialty platform where she currently serves as Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to that, she was Global Head of Marine for AIG, after spending nearly six years at Lancashire Group, where her final role was as Chief Executive Officer of its Lloyd’s platform, Lancashire Syndicates. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions at Canopius Group, Swiss Re and BMS Group.
