Zurich Insurance Company appoints Roland Zataar as Engineering Construction Practice Leader

Joining from Gulf Reinsurance Limited, where he worked for one year as Senior Underwriter, Roland has over fifteen years of International property and Engineering construction-underwriting experience. Roland spent ten years working for Gen Re (A Berkshire Hathaway Company), including five years in Paris as Senior Underwriting Specialist overseeing a number of markets including France, Belgium, Middle East and Africa. Roland has an Executive PhD from "Centre des Hautes Etudes d'Assurances" - Conservatoire National des Arts et des Métiers (CNAM) in Paris and a Master from Université du Québec a Montréal (UQAM).

Saad Mered, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Zurich Middle East, the business unit responsible for driving ZIC's activities in the region, said: "We are delighted to welcome Roland to Global Corporate in the Middle East, at an exciting time for the future of Zurich Insurance Company. As we establish our operations in the region, Roland brings the necessary expertise and regional experience to drive us forward."

Operating out of ZIC's offices in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC), Roland will provide underwriting leadership across all non-energy property lines of business with a lead underwriting proposition in large and complex construction projects throughout the Middle East.

Roland Zaatar, Engineering Construction Practice Leader and Head of Property, (GCiME) added: "Having previously lived and worked in the Middle East, I can appreciate the enormous potential the region holds. Dubai and the DIFC is fast becoming the regional financial hub and I am looking forward to playing my role in ZIC's part in this development."

He will report to the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) of Zurich Middle East, Alfredo Alonso and Head of Construction Asia Pacific and Middle East, Daniel Abramson.