Swiss Re said Thursday that Jacques Aigrain will become chief executive officer of the Zurich insurer on Jan. 1.
Mr. Aigrain, who is the company's deputy chief executive officer, is to succeed John Coomber, who will retire Dec. 31. Swiss Re's board of directors is to propose Mr. Coomber for election to the board at the annual shareholder meeting in April.
Mr. Aigrain, 51, began his career as a member of the corporate finance team at the former J.P. Morgan & Co. in Paris, London, and New York. From 1986 to 1992, he helped Morgan develop a mergers and acquisitions department in New York, before becoming co-head of corporate finance.
In 2001, Mr. Aigrain was appointed to Swiss Re's executive board committee and put in charge of the newly created financial services business group. He was appointed deputy chief executive officer in 2004.
In conjunction with Mr. Aigrain's promotion, Swiss Re named Michel Lies head of client markets and a member of the executive board committee. Martin Albers is to succeed Mr. Lies as head of client markets in Europe.
