Munich Re has appointed Eric Zhao as chief executive officer of its Beijing branch, effective 1 January 2026, pending regulatory approval, the business announced on Monday, 29 December.
He succeeds Adrian Goh, who will become chief risk officer for APAC/MEA starting 1 February 2026.
Zhao originally joined Munich Re in 2006 as head of operations and currently serves as general manager for Munich Re Life & Health, China. He began his career as a doctor and later held roles at two major primary insurers in China.
In his new role, Zhao will oversee Munich Re’s Beijing branch and its Life & Health business in China, reporting to Steve Zhang, CEO life and health, Greater China, while collaborating with Serene Chan, chief executive, Greater China, P&C.
“Greater China is a key strategic market for Munich Re’s long-term strategy, and we have strong ambitions to grow our Life & Health business in the region. I am confident that Eric Zhao’s deep understanding of China’s insurance markets will help to take our business to the next stage of its development,” Zhang said of Zhao’s appointment.
Zhao holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from Peking University and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the China University of Political Science and Law.
The appointment comes with Asia-Pacific, and in particular China and India, at the centre of Munich Re’s new, five-year “Ambition 2030” strategy. The group expects its life and health reinsurance revenues to reach EUR18-22bn (US$21-25bn) by 2030, driven by 8-12% annual growth from 2025.
The business has identified the region as a key source of earnings stability and future growth, with APAC life and health reinsurance playing a central role in the group’s shift towards less cyclical business lines and a more balanced earnings mix.
