On 29 March Euler Hermes, the world leader in trade credit insurance, operating in 52 countries, became Allianz Trade - a natural move as it has been fully part of the Allianz Group since 2018. The company will benefit even more from the reputation and strength of the Allianz Group

The planned foundation of Global Assistance Belgrade in April 2022 will raise the number of the Group's own digital customer service companies assisting Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) customers in already 11 markets. The new assistance company is set to be fully operational by the end of 2022.

Starting 1 April, Tomas Milasius took over the management of Compensa Life Vienna Insurance Group SE, the life and health insurance services provider of the Austrian Group in the Baltic States.

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) has signed a cooperation agreement with Vienna-based international PropTech company GROPYUS. VIG Group is supporting GROPYUS with insurance, assistance services, financing, and the company's planned expansion to Central and Eastern Europe.

Bulgarian insurance market ended 2021 with a total GWP of BGN 3.24 billion (EUR 1.66 billion), up by 12.73% y-o-y, according to the market figures from the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission (FSC).

The Georgian insurance market ended 2021 with an increase of almost 16% - GWP amounted to GEL 772.66 million (EUR 220.51 million), according to the Georgian Insurance Supervision Service.

Net profit of the Bosnian insurer ASA Osiguranje increased 27.3% y-o-y in 2021 to BAM 3.2 million (EUR 1.6 million), SeeNews informed.

The organizers of the debut project "Life Insurance - Protection and Investment" are ABZ (Association of Bulgarian Insurers) and Bulgaria ON AIR, the discussion will be broadcast on April 10 at 17:30, the Association said.

In January-February 2022, GWP of Albanian insurers decreased by 0.82% y-o-y, reaching ALL 2.8 billion (EUR 22.7 million), SeeNews reports citing official figures.

Italian insurer Generali announced it now controls its life joint venture in India with 68% stake after it completed the acquisition of the entire stake (around 16%) held by Industrial Investment Trust Limited (IITL) in Future Generali India Life (FGIL) and the subscription of additional shares in FGLI, following receipt of all necessary approvals from the relevant regulatory and competition authorities.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS), the corporate insurance carrier of Allianz Group, announced the appointment of Vanessa MAXWELL as new Global Head of Financial Lines. Vanessa MAXWELL joins AGCS from Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance from her current role as UK Country Manager. In this role she will succeed - and also subsequently report to - Shanil WILLIAMS who was promoted to join the AGCS SE Board of Management in January 2022 as Chief Underwriting Officer Corporate.

SCOR's 100% backed SCOR Syndicate announced the appointment of Marie BIGGAS as Active Underwriter and Chief Underwriting Officer of SCOR UK, subject to regulatory approval.

Marsh McLennan (MMC) announced the appointment of Mikhail VANYO as General Counsel of Marsh, effective immediately.

According to preliminary data, at the end of 2021, UZBEKINVEST remained the market leader in terms of GWP, having collected UZS 385 billion (EUR 31.49 million*), gazeta.uz informed.

According to the information of brokers of insurance companies in Moldova, in the spring of 2022, the number and size of insurance contracts concluded by agricultural producers dropped sharply. Among the reasons, there is a decrease in industry profitability throughout the 2021-2022 season, as well as a sharp rise in the cost of all production resources in late 2021 and early 2022, EastFruit reports.

For the first two months of 2022, GWP of 20 insurance companies in Azerbaijan amounted to AZN 178.30 million (~EUR 93.65 million*), which is 11.1% more y-o-y. At that the insurers collected AZN 143.13 million (+21.6%) in voluntary insurance, ABC.AZ reports citing the Central Bank's figures.

Guy Carpenter - the global risk and reinsurance specialist and a business of Marsh McLennan, announced the appointment of Julian ENOIZI as Global Head of Public Sector, effective April 11, 2022.

Italian insurer Generali announced its Board of Directors has taken the decision to terminate the employment of Luciano CIRINA, Austria & CEE (ACEE) Regional Officer, with immediate effect.

The energy subholding of Eurohold Bulgaria AD - Eastern European Electric Company B.V. (EEEC), which acquired CEZ Group's companies in Bulgaria in 2021, lifted the stake it holds in the capital of CEZ Distribution Bulgaria AD and CEZ Electro Bulgaria AD to nearly 99% and 97%, respectively.

German insurer Allianz announced that Gunther THALLINGER, Board Member - joined the new UN Advisory Council focused on accelerating climate actions - being one of the 16 experts of High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities (HLEG).