AGCS launches crisis management division in North America

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) is looking to help its North American clients with preventing, preparing for and recovering from crisis incidents with the launch of a new division.

The company’s new Crisis Management division will operate from within AGCS’s global liability line of business, which provides insurance and service solutions pertaining to product recall and contamination, hostile environments, terrorism and political violence, notes a statement Wednesday from AGCS, Allianz Group’s dedicated carrier for corporate and specialty insurance business.

Beyond covering financial losses, AGCS also offers its clients crisis management assistance services on a 24/7 basis, regardless of location, through its partner company red24, the statement adds.

“Our clients face an increasing array of complex, perilous risks and they rely on the global leadership of AGCS to provide the expertise to help protect their customers, employees, property and overall reputation,” Dieter Hautzer, AGCS’s regional head of liability in North America, says in the statement.

As part of the new North American offering, Marcos Garcia Norris has been named crisis management regional practice group leader, North America.

Norris, whose appointment takes effect immediately, joins AGCS from London, where he held the position of class underwriter for crisis management for several years at Lloyd’s Syndicate 2007. He has also held crisis management positions in various cities for Starr Underwriting Agents Ltd., AIG Europe and AIG UK.

Based in Chicago, Norris will report to Hautzer, with a matrix report to Christof Bentele, AGCS’s London-based head of global crisis management.