The appointment of former Generali executive Jack Howell as Zurich’s new Regional CEO for Asia-Pacific is the latest step in a global campaign to simplify the group’s structure.

Mr Howell, who worked with new Group CEO Mario Greco at Generali and will report directly to him, will assume the Hong-Kong based role from September 1. 

As reported by insuranceNEWS.com.au in a Breaking News report on Friday, the move will see former regional CEO Stuart Spencer continue to work in the company, reporting to Mr Howell.

Mr Spencer was appointed Asia-Pacific CEO in November 2013. Mr Greco became Group CEO in March, and in June he released a new organisation chart that, for the first time, brought together the Asia-Pacific life and general businesses, under Mr Spencer’s interim control.

Mr Greco said last week the appointment of Mr Howell, who was formerly Generali’s regional officer for Asia, gives Zurich “20 years of industry knowledge and a successful track record in managing insurance businesses in the [Asia-Pacific] region, including CEO positions in the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia at AIG and Prudential”.

The change is the latest in a number of steps Mr Greco has taken to simplify what he described in June as “the famously complicated structure of Zurich Insurance”.