08 NOV 2018: Allianz Global Assistance, a Canadian travel insurance and assistance provider, has appointed Chris Van Kooten as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Kooten brings extensive insurance industry experience to his new position, having held executive leadership roles with a number of well-respected Canadian companies.

In recent years, he held roles with The Co-operators General Insurance Company and Economical Insurance. He was Managing Director at Guy Carpenter Canada, where he led strategic relationship management, new business prospecting, designing comprehensive reinsurance programs, developing new products and advising on insurance technology solutions.

As CEO for Allianz Global Assistance, Kooten will aim to drive strong, sustainable growth for the company and its long-standing partners across all of its strategic distribution channels, including its financial services, travel, insurance broker and group benefits lines of business.