HDI Global (HDI), the corporate and specialty insurance company of Talanx Group, has appointed Justin Gress as chief operating officer (COO) of its US operations.
In her new role, Gress will be tasked with managing a broad range of operational responsibilities, including product development, transformation, talent management and the enhancement of data and technology capabilities.
His primary goal is to build a consistent, scalable operating model designed to improve execution while providing greater reliability and clarity to clients and brokers.
Gress is a senior insurance executive with more than two decades of progressive leadership in operations, technology and business transformation.
The executive’s career includes serving as chief operating officer at global and specialty insurance organizations (most recently at Vantage Risk), as well as leadership roles at AXA XL and CNA Financial.
According to HDI, Gress’ appointment will strengthen the operational platform in line with the company’s Xcelerate29 strategy, which involves new leadership and organizational setup.
Gress commented: “HDI Global is at an important inflection point with strong global capabilities, clear ambitions to grow in the US and a leadership team committed to building for the long term. What attracted me was the combination of technical excellence and a genuine commitment to long-term partnerships.
“My focus is on translating these strengths into a consistent and scalable operating model. We will increase operational clarity for brokers and clients, advance our technology and data capabilities, and foster a culture that empowers colleagues to do their best work. This is a moment of real momentum for HDI USA, and I’m excited to contribute to shaping the future.”
Dr. York von Falkenhayn, interim CEO of HDI Global US, said: “Justin is an experienced operational leader we have hired with a proven track record of building and scaling platforms in complex environments. His expertise will help us further align our operating model with our strategic goals and strengthen our execution capabilities in the U.S. market.”
“Together with our new leadership team, we are building a solid foundation to deliver consistent value to our broker partners and clients, solidifying our position as their preferred partner for transformation and accelerating our growth in the U.S. market.”
