MICHAEL DIEKMANN

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allianz, a Munich-based insurance, asset management, and banking company. Born in Germany, he has been with the company since 1988 where he held several managerial positions, including spearheading the firm’s overseas divisions. He became the Chairman and CEO in 2003, following Henning Schulte-Noelle’s resignation and the company went through significant losses from 9/11 terrorist attack, major flooding in Europe, and asbestos claims in the US. After a year, he was able to raise its profits and share price by reducing non-essential businesses and increasing billions in capital.