Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance is branching out into Germany as part of a broader European expansion. Veteran executives from Aon, Allianz and elsewhere will help lead it.

BHSI’s new operations are in Düsseldorf, Germany and will handle specialty insurance underwriting for customers throughout Europe.

Peter Eastwood, President and CEO of BHSI, said the effort fits alongside an ongoing plan to grow globally.

“This latest strategic expansion reflects BHSI’s commitment to growing both our global footprint and our worldwide capabilities,” Eastwood noted in prepared remarks.

Here are the executives who will staff the Düsseldorf effort:

• Jörg Bechert, as senior vice president, head of Executive and Professional Lines, Northern Europe. Previously, he was head of strategy and innovation at AON Germany and is a 30-year insurance industry veteran.
• Ulrich Kütter,as senior vice president, head of Marine, Northern Europe. The 25-year insurance industry veteran was previously head of Marine, Central and Eastern Europe at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE.
• Leander Metzger, as senior vice president, head of Property, Northern Europe. A 20-year insurance industry veteran, he was previously director, AFM at FM Insurance Company Limited’s Central European Operation.
• Robert Scherf,vice president, head of Human Resources, Northern Europe. He was most recently head of Human Resources at Catlin Europe (now part of XL Catlin, with close to 30 years of experience.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance disclosed in March that it was expanding into Europe. Plans call for BHSI to operate in Europe as part of its Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Ltd. affiliate. Both are part of Berkshire Hathaway’s National Indemnity group of insurance companies.

Beyond Europe, BHSI has expanded in recent months into Australia and New Zealand, among other regions.

Source: BHSI