A Change at Allianz Life Insurance's Helm: Katja de la Viña Steps Down for Family
Abandoning Leading Role, De la Viña Prioritizes Child Rearing Over Professional Obligations
An unexpected shift has taken place at the top seat of Allianz Life Insurance in Germany as Katja de la Viña (45) calls it quits, effective December 31. This move comes after a laudable 2.5-year tenure. But why the sudden change? De la Viña yearns to dedicate more time to her two children, juggling work and family life can no longer be flipped like a coin.
De la Viña, who formerly served as CFO of Allianz Deutschland from April 2019 to 2021/2022 and then as CEO of Allianz Life, had to delay her appointment as CEO by three months in 2022 due to her family's health issues, including a COVID-19 battle despite being fully vaccinated.
However, the exit is not precipitated by an emergency; instead, it's a personal choice - a need to be there for her growing kids who are already 6 and 10 years old. These circumstances may well mark a pioneering ethnicity in the corporate world.
Klaus-Peter Röhler, Allianz SE board member and chairman of the supervisory board of Allianz Life, expressed gratitude and admiration for de la Viña's accomplishments and her courage to prioritize family. Though saddened by her decision, he wholeheartedly respects and supports her personal journey while expressing eagerness to continue leveraging de la Viña's expertise within the company.
The mantle will be passed on to Ruedi Kubat, currently the chairman of the executive board of Allianz Suisse Insurance Company AG, who takes up the position of chairman of the board. Kubat, a Swiss native, boasts an impressive background as a seasoned economist, serving as COO for the Swiss national company and member of the executive board for four years before taking the helm in early 2022.
The change comes without panic, with de la Viña joining Röhler's department in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition. Post this phase, she will move on to assume a strategic management role at Group Strategy, Marketing, and Distribution, plunging back into the pool of full-time employment in due course.
As for the future planning at Allianz Life Insurance, Laura Gersch (41) - the CFO of Allianz Versicherungs-AG - steps in as the incoming CEO from January 1st. Temporarily filling Gersch's shoes will be Klaus Berge (48), CFO of Allianz Private Krankenversicherungs-AG.
Amid this shift, it's noteworthy that the trend has been slowly but surely inching toward more family-friendly policies within the top management ranks. The narrative seems to be rapidly changing, with an increased emphasis on flexible working hours, remote work, and extended parental leave, offering support to executives struggling to balance career and family.
While detailed data on European top management regarding school-aged children remains scarce, it's apparent that progressive changes are inevitable as attention shifts toward supporting work-life balance among executives graced with families.
- Klaus-Peter Roehler, expressing gratitude to Katja de la Viña, admires her courage to prioritize family over her position at Allianz Life Insurance.
- De la Viña, having served as CEO of Allianz Life, will join Roehler's department in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.
- Laura Gersch (41), the CFO of Allianz Versicherungs-AG, will step in as the incoming CEO at Allianz Life Insurance from January 1st.
- The trend within top management ranks is slowly inching toward more family-friendly policies, with an increased emphasis on flexible working hours, remote work, and extended parental leave.
- Allianz SE board member, Roehler, offered eagerness to continue leveraging de la Viña's expertise within the company after her departure.
- The science of health and wellness, women's health, and parenting may all benefit from the increased focus on family dynamics in executive careers as appropriate policies are implemented.
- As de la Viña transitions out of her role as CEO, she has expressed her intention to re-enter full-time employment in due course, accepting a strategic management role at Group Strategy, Marketing, and Distribution.
- The exit of de la Viña from Allianz Life Insurance's helm highlights the need for insurance companies to address family-driven aspects in their leadership and business strategies, ultimately contributing to a better lifestyle for their employees.
