Allianz Trade, the world leader in trade credit insurance, today announces David Barber has been appointed Head of Surety & Guarantee for Allianz Trade in the UK & Ireland. He succeeds David Weale who is pursuing opportunities outside of Allianz Trade.
David takes up his new role after the best part of 25 years in corporate credit, including 14 years with Allianz Trade. He joined the business as an underwriter specialising in construction & timber sector risks and went on to hold a series of increasingly senior managerial roles, including regional underwriting manager for Northern Europe and risk director for the UK & Ireland Surety team. Prior to Allianz Trade, David was partner in the business banking division of a prominent UK bank, and a corporate credit analyst at another major bank before that.
In his new role, David will hold a seat on the UK & Ireland Executive Board of Management. He will report to Jeroen van Riet, Regional Head of Surety & Guarantee for Northern Europe, and Matt Williams, CEO of Allianz Trade in the UK & Ireland.
Jeroen Van Riet said: “David’s career to date has been a compelling story of growth and achievement. He’s played a leading role on the team for many years, including for our digital transformation initiatives, often going above and beyond to keep our UK & Ireland Surety department futureproof. Our Surety & Guarantee business has experienced exceptional demand in recent years and our target growth trajectory for the coming years is equally ambitious. I look forward to seeing what the team will continue to achieve under David’s leadership, as we look to support even more businesses secure contracts for projects across sectors from construction to renewable energy and beyond.”
David Barber said: “It’s a pleasure to take on the role of Head of Surety & Guarantee for the UK & Ireland, particularly at such a critical time for infrastructure projects across the country which rely on the security of a contract guarantee to come to fruition, and after the introduction of our specialist Surety Green2Green product which opens an exciting avenue to support renewable projects with bonds that actively fund a sustainable future. We have an immensely talented team on the ground so I’m excited to keep working with them to shape our strategy, continue evolving our offer and ultimately bring our clients confidence in tomorrow.”