Euler Hermes Group announces CEO leadership change

PARIS, Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Euler Hermes Group, the worldwide leader in trade credit insurance, announces today that Wilfried Verstraete, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management has decided to step down from his operational duties after twelve successful years in the role. Clarisse Kopff will succeed him as CEO and Chairperson of the Board of Management as of January 1^st, 2021. The change is subject to regulatory approval.

Wilfried Verstraete joined Euler Hermes in 2009 where he steered the group through the global financial crisis. Under his leadership, he transformed the traditional, century-old credit insurer into a data-driven, customer-centric Fintech leader with market leading, real-time digital solutions for its clients. He will continue to serve Euler Hermes Group as an advisor to the new CEO through 2021. He will also retain board positions in Euler Hermes SA, Euler Hermes North America, Solunion and Euler Hermes Reinsurance AG.

Clarisse Kopff (47) is a graduate of ESCP Business School and holds a postgraduate degree from Université Paris Dauphine and the German Diplom Kaufmann. She is currently Chief Financial Officer of Allianz France. She began her career in debt origination at Lehman Brothers in London, then as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Paris before joining Euler Hermes in 2001 as controller for the company's French entity in Paris. From 2007, she served Euler Hermes in several positions of increasing responsibility and international scope: head of controlling for French and Mediterranean activities (2007-2011); head of Group controlling (2010 – 2012); head of accounting, controlling, actuarial services and investor relations (2012-2013). Recognized for her customer-centricity, she was promoted as Group Chief Financial Officer in 2014 where she was responsible for all Group finance functions, asset management, legal and compliance, M&A, tax and risk and capital management.

Clarisse Kopff, Chief Financial Officer, Allianz France:

"I am very grateful for the prolific and eventful years I have spent with the teams at Allianz France. I joined the company at a key moment when the industry had to reinvent itself amidst a low interest environment. This challenge prompted us to invent new financial models, as well as accelerate our own digital transformation.

I am honored to accept this position as Euler Hermes Group CEO. I thank Wilfried Verstraete for his trust. The current crisis is far from over but with his ongoing support, I am prepared to lead the company and accompany our clients and partners through these difficult times. It is a great mission for leaders today to instill confidence in tomorrow. On more personal grounds, I am also looking forward to reconnecting with my former colleagues at Euler Hermes."           

Wilfried Verstraete, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management of Euler Hermes Group:

"It has been a real privilege to serve my teams and our clients as the CEO of Euler Hermes. I am proud to have witnessed the high potential of our teams unleashed, which resulted in expanding our market leadership and raising the bar of unparalleled customer service. Yet, the strength of this company can only be as strong as the ties between our partners. Therefore, I want to thank our clients and partners for their unwavering trust in us throughout these years.

Clarisse proved her talent and competence throughout her 16 years at Euler Hermes, where she was instrumental in creating a truly integrated Group reinforced by its strong financial performance. I am confident that with her visionary leadership, backed by her experience at Allianz France, Clarisse will take Euler Hermes to the next level and continue setting the standard for customer experience in trade finance."      

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Euler Hermes is the global leader in trade credit insurance and a recognized specialist in the areas of surety, collections, structured trade credit and political risk. Our proprietary intelligence network analyses daily changes in corporate solvency representing 92% of global GDP. We give companies the confidence to trade, and be paid. We compensate your company in the event of a bad debt, but more importantly, we help you avoid bad debt in the first place. Whenever we provide trade credit insurance or other finance solutions, our priority is predictive protection. But, when the unexpected arrives, our AA credit rating means we have the resources, backed by Allianz to provide compensation to maintain your business. Headquartered in Paris, Euler Hermes is present in 50+ countries with 5,800 employees. In 2019, our consolidated turnover was €2.9 billion and insured global business transactions represented €950 billion in exposure.

For more information, please visit: eulerhermes.com

We predict trade and credit risk today, so companies can have confidence in tomorrow.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such deviations may arise due to, without limitation, (i) changes of the general economic conditions and competitive situation, particularly in the Allianz Group's core business and core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets (particularly market volatility, liquidity and credit events), (iii) frequency and severity of insured loss events, including from natural catastrophes, and the development of loss expenses, (iv) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (v) persistency levels, (vi) particularly in the banking business, the extent of credit defaults, (vii) interest rate levels, (viii) currency exchange rates including the euro/US-dollar exchange rate, (ix) changes in laws and regulations, including tax regulations, (x) the impact of acquisitions, including related integration issues, and reorganization measures, and (xi) general competitive factors, in each case on a local, regional, national and/or global basis. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur, or more pronounced, as a result of terrorist activities and their consequences.

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