Crist will replace Dennis Ziengs who has been appointed executive advisor to the company’s group CEO, Bart de Smet, and to Crist in Asia. The appointments are effective as of 1 August.
Crist joined Ageas, which concentrates its business in Europe and Asia, in 2002 and has been responsible for the company’s entry into new markets within the Asia region. In 2006 he became managing director, commercial development and support, with the added remit of providing commercial support to its existing entities.
Crist’s predecessor, Ziengs also joined the company in 2002. In his new role, Ziengs will advise Ageas’s group and Asia CEOs on specific projects and will work to raise the profile of Ageas in the Asian insurance industry.
According to its website, Ageas is ranked among the top 20 insurance companies in Europe and has annual inflows of nearly €13bn. It operates partnerships in Belgium, the UK, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, China, Malaysia, India and Thailand and has subsidiaries in France, Germany, Hong Kong and the UK.
“The company has excellent partnerships with leading financial institutions in China, India, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as an enviable position in the Hong Kong market,” said Crist. “I am looking forward to building these partnerships further, and I am confident that Ageas will gain ever-greater success in the region.”
