Zurich has appointed Anita Gabat as head of commercial insurance in the UK, subject to regulatory approval.
Gabat currently serves as head of property within Zurich’s UK commercial business. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s entire UK commercial insurance portfolio.
She succeeds Frank Streidl, who is moving into a newly created global position as head of energy. In that role, Streidl will be responsible for Zurich’s global strategy and portfolio across the energy specialty.
Streidl joined Zurich in November 2010 and has held a number of senior positions across energy, marine and construction. His previous roles include head of energy EMEA and global head of upstream energy, before he became head of UK commercial insurance on January 1, 2023. Prior to joining Zurich, he worked at Hannover Re and Accenture.
Internal promotion continues Zurich’s leadership approach
Gabat’s appointment follows a similar internal succession pattern used by Zurich previously. Streidl himself was promoted internally to lead UK commercial insurance in 2023, moving from his position as head of energy, marine and construction after his predecessor, Rob Kuchinski, retired and returned to the US.
Gabat has spent nearly 20 years with Zurich, building experience across finance, strategy, distribution and commercial underwriting. Her career with the insurer has included positions in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, New York and London, as well as leadership responsibilities for international portfolios and multinational programmes.
Appointment aligns with Zurich’s mid-market strategy
Gabat’s promotion comes as Zurich continues to pursue a broader, multi-year strategy focused on expanding its presence in the middle-market and specialty segments.
Sierra Signorelli, chief executive of commercial insurance at Zurich, previously told Insurance Business that middle-market and specialty lines represent key opportunities for further diversification. She noted that establishing a strong presence in the middle-market requires more than simply entering the segment, which has led Zurich to spend several years building and acquiring capabilities specifically suited to the sector.
Zurich’s strategy has continued to show progress. Its third-quarter 2025 results reported 11% middle-market growth in Europe and 7% growth in its core US segments, while the broader commercial insurance business also continued to perform strongly.
Streidl’s global energy role highlights another strategic priority
Streidl’s move into a dedicated global energy position also highlights the importance Zurich places on the specialty outside its mid-market expansion.
The executive has previously described upstream energy as his professional “natural home.” His industry background includes chairing the IUMI Offshore Energy Committee from 2013 to 2020 and serving on the board of the International Underwriting Association.
His specialist experience positions him to lead Zurich’s global energy strategy and portfolio as the company continues to develop its presence in the sector.
The latest leadership change also marks the second consecutive UK commercial insurance appointment made through internal promotion. Streidl moved into the role from energy and construction in 2023, while Gabat now takes over after leading Zurich’s property business.
The succession suggests Zurich is continuing to place experienced internal specialists at the helm of its UK commercial operation. That approach could provide leadership continuity as the insurer continues implementing its broader strategy around middle-market and specialty insurance, particularly in its relationships with brokers.
