HDI Global has appointed Thomas Kropp as chief operating officer and chief information officer (COO/CIO), succeeding Dr. Thomas Kuhnt, as the corporate and specialty insurer restructures executive responsibilities under its Xcelerate29 strategy.
According to the announcement, Dr. Kuhnt will step down from the Executive Board on 30 June 2026 at his own request and following a joint agreement, in order to take up a new professional opportunity outside the Talanx Group.
The leadership change will take effect on 1 July 2026, with HDI Global reshaping responsibilities on the Executive Board in line with its corporate strategy, prioritising operational excellence and digital transformation.
Torsten Leue, Chief Executive Officer of Talanx AG and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of HDI Global SE, said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to Thomas Kropp and look forward to working with him in this strategically important area.
“At the same time, I would like to thank Thomas Kuhnt for his outstanding commitment over many years. Together with the Executive Board, he has set key strategic directions that have positioned HDI Global as a leading international Corporate & Specialty insurer.”
As part of the transition, the portfolio previously overseen by Dr. Kuhnt will be restructured into a dedicated COO/CIO function under Kropp, reflecting the insurer’s emphasis on technology, operational efficiency and scalable processes.
HDI Global said the move highlights the importance of high-performing IT infrastructure and efficient processes in supporting clients and brokers as they navigate transformation.
Kropp joins the company with more than two decades of global leadership experience across the insurance and technology sectors, including roles overseeing global IT, infrastructure and operations functions at international companies across the United States, Asia and Europe.
His experience includes developing international operating models and scaling processes and technologies across complex organisations.
“With Thomas Kropp, we are gaining an experienced leader who has successfully delivered operational transformations in globally organised companies,” said Dr Edgar Puls, Chief Executive Officer of HDI Global SE and Member of the Executive Board of Talanx AG responsible for the Corporate & Specialty division. “His extensive expertise will help to further strengthen our structures and processes across countries and to sustainably enhance the technological foundation of our business.”
Kropp said: “HDI Global has shown strong development in recent years – strategically, financially and in digitalisation. What convinced me was the combination of corporate culture, momentum and high performance. Together with teams around the world, I want to build on this and consistently advance the digital transformation, with a clear focus on added value for our clients and brokers.”
As part of the wider reorganisation, HDI Global will place its strategic AI activities directly under the CEO’s remit, with the AI unit being consolidated under Dr Puls.
The company said the change reflects the growing importance of data-driven technologies within the business.
Additional board changes include Dr. Renate Strasser retaining responsibility for the Specialty business while adding Pricing & Analytics, Guidance and the global Accident & Health portfolio.
Responsibility for the strategic US market will move to Dr. Mukadder Erdönmez, alongside his existing responsibilities for Liability, Cyber and Motor Fleet insurance.
Dr. Dirk Höring will add Services to his portfolio, while David Hullin will assume responsibility for International Programmes in addition to his current regional responsibilities outside Germany and the United States.
Dr. Barbara Klimaszewski-Blettner will oversee Austria and Switzerland alongside Germany to establish a unified DACH region and will also take responsibility for People & Culture while retaining Global Claims management.
Dr. Stefan Pasternak’s responsibilities as chief financial officer remain unchanged.
Dr. Edgar Puls said: “The new allocation of responsibilities is in line with our focus on excellence and ensures clear conditions for continued profitable growth and long-term stability. At the same time, we are committed to our services and taking them to the next level, with the ambition of supporting clients and brokers effectively as a reliable partner.”
