Allianz scoops global insurance awards

Sydney, 29 August 2008

Allianz SE has been awarded the title of "Best Global Primary Insurance Company" at the Reactions Magazine Global Awards ceremony, held in New York this week. Completing the trifecta, Allianz also won the "Best European Primary Insurance Company" and CEO Michael Diekmann was awarded "Best Insurance CEO of the Year". The Reactions Global Awards took place on 26 August at the New York Rockefeller Centre.

Reactions is a leading monthly magazine that provides detailed, global coverage of the insurance and reinsurance industries. The magazine explores how the world's businesses, insurers and reinsurers cope with and transfer risk. Reactions publishes frequent ranking and league tables of insurers, reinsurers, and brokers as well as detailed analyses of top companies' share performance and capital raising techniques.

According to Terry Towell, Managing Director of Allianz Australia: “Local Allianz companies commonly win awards for excellence in the countries in which they operate. For example, Allianz Australia has been awarded ‘Best General Insurance Company’ for the last two years by the Australian Banking and Finance Industry Awards. And Allianz also won the title of ‘Best European Primary Insurance Company’ at the Reactions awards. However, it is especially pleasing when the efforts of Allianz companies and employees all over the world culminate in an accolade like ‘Best Global Primary Insurance Company’.”

The Reactions Awards recognize the top achievers of the insurance and reinsurance markets and are awarded based on the results of a poll of the magazine’s readers, who are among the important decision makers in the insurance industry.

Accepting the awards, CEO of the global Allianz Group, Michael Diekmann, stated: "Such recognition comes with the responsibility to live up to highest expectations. And given the difficult market environment, it is more critical than ever that we effectively help our customers to manage their risks and opportunities. Achieving customer satisfaction also means that we continue listening to our customers, and improve where they say we need to improve, so that we may better meet their needs or even surpass their expectations."

Concluding, Mr Towell stated: “The awards underline the appreciation that Allianz's customers and business partners have for the company. During all of life's important moments, 80 million Allianz customers in 70 countries have a reliable partner at their side who can be trusted to deliver in moments of truth”.

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Allianz Australia

Best General Insurance Company 2006*
Best General Insurance Company 2007*

The Allianz Australia Group operates in Australia and New Zealand. It is one of Australia’s largest general insurers, a leading private workers’ compensation insurer, and also provides life insurance.

Allianz Australia delivers a wide range of personal, commercial and corporate insurance products and services. AAL is proud to be of service to more than 2 million policy holders and over 50% of Australia’s top 200 BRW listed companies have some form of insurance cover with the group.

Allianz Australia has approximately 3300 staff. In 2007, the company achieved a gross written premium exceeding AU$2.4 billion and investment assets of approximately AU$5.5 billion. Allianz Australia Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide Allianz Group, one of the world’s largest financial services companies.


Allianz’s commitment to social, environmental and economic sustainability has been acknowledged ‎internationally by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which recognised Allianz as the most ‎sustainable general insurer in the world in 2007. In Australia, Allianz is a member of the Greenhouse ‎Challenge Plus program, which is a cooperative partnership between industry and the Australian ‎Government that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.‎

*Australian Banking and Finance Insurance Awards