ThE financial -- Zurich Financial Services Group announces the appointment of Francis Bouchard to the position of Group Head of Government and Industry Affairs, effective April 1, 2012. Mr. Bouchard, currently Global Head of Sales, Distribution and Marketing for Zurich's Global Corporate business, succeeds Peter Buomberger who will retire at the end of June 2012.

According to Zurich Financial Services, in his new position, Mr. Bouchard will be responsible to maintain and further strengthen the Group's interaction with key governmental and industry bodies around the world and will provide strategic leadership in public policy, corporate responsibility and industry economics. Mr. Bouchard will be based in Zurich.

Mr. Bouchard joined Zurich in 1998 as Senior Vice President, Government Affairs for Zurich North America Commercial and then held the position of Head of Government and Industry Affairs for Zurich General Insurance in North America. From 2006 to 2010 he was Group Head of Corporate Communications. Prior to his current position he has worked in General Insurance as Group Head of Proposition Development. Mr. Bouchard holds a bachelor's degree of science in magazine journalism, a bachelor's degree in art history, both from Syracuse University and a Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law.

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