“We will miss his passion, his prudence, and his clear thinking.”
Those were the words of group chief executive Mario Greco when Zurich Insurance Group announced “with great sadness” the passing of honorary chairman Fritz Gerber, whose career at the insurer spanned nearly four decades. Gerber, who was born in March 1929, passed away on May 10.
The company veteran came onboard Zurich in 1958 and served as CEO from 1974 to 1991 as well as chair between 1977 and 1995. He had been honorary chairman ever since.
Paying tribute, current chair Michel M. Liès had this to say: “Fritz Gerber was a remarkable leader and is rightly considered one of the greatest company managers in Switzerland.
“At Zurich, his leadership was characterized by far-sightedness, a strategic mindset, and an ability to bring out the best in people. He significantly contributed to Zurich’s strategic positioning and commercial success.”
Greco, likewise, thanked the esteemed executive for everything he did for the firm.