January 20th 2026
Four senior appointments at Allianz Partners Health line of business
Allianz Partners, a world leader in insurance and assistance services, has announced four senior appointments across its Health line of business, with the strategic goal of driving growth across key global markets.
Giovanni di Meo has been appointed Head of Commercial, Health and Benefits, where he will lead the Employee Benefits, Corporate IPMI and Governmental sales segments globally. In this role, Giovanni will be responsible for shaping and executing the global sales strategy and driving trading performance across all markets, while building strong, long-lasting distribution relationships with brokers.
Giovanni brings 15 years of international experience in Life and Health insurance across Europe and Asia, with specialist expertise in business development and broker management. He joined Allianz from Generali in January 2020 as Regional Director Asia Pacific for Allianz Global Benefits, and from 2023 to 2025 served as Head of Sales Performance and Steering for Health and Benefits.
Liam Hughes has been appointed Head of Sales Europe, Health & Benefits. In his role, Liam will oversee the European sales team to support Allianz Partner’s growth, retention, and market expansion in Europe across all segments.
Liam joins Allianz Partners from Cigna International, where he was Chief Commercial Officer, and brings with him over 30 years of experience in international B2B relationships. He has extensive experience building and managing high-performing, global teams, including recruiting and developing talent.
Carl Downham has been appointed Head of Sales Middle East & Africa (MEA), Health & Benefits, where he will lead the development and execution of sales strategies, fostering key partnerships and expanding market presence in the MEA region.
Carl has held several roles during his 15 years with Allianz Partners, including at the Assistance line of business where he led new business development with airlines across the MEA region before moving to Health, where he spearheaded customer relationship management initiatives. He brings strong expertise in developing partnerships across the MEA region, with a deep understanding of market dynamics and a proven ability to support key broker relationships.
Elke De Cauwer is the new Head of Sales Steering, Transformation and Performance, where she will lead a global team to drive strategic planning and performance management across Allianz Partners’ Health line of business. Her responsibilities include overseeing sales support, implementing best-in-class processes and tools, managing reporting frameworks, and spearheading transformation programs.
Elke brings to the role over 25 years in global healthcare and insurance services, including 13 with Allianz Partners, specialising in client solutions, digital transformation and operational leadership.
David Myers, Global Head of Sales and KAM, Health and Benefits at Allianz Partners, commented:
“We are delighted to announce four new senior appointments within Allianz Partners’ Health line of business. The global leadership perspective, alongside the regional insight and digital transformation expertise that Giovanni, Liam, Carl and Elke bring, will be instrumental in accelerating our growth ambitions and strengthening our presence across Europe, the MEA region and globally.
These strategic appointments underscore Allianz Partners' commitment to enhancing our Health line of business with exceptional leadership and expertise. As we continue to innovate and expand our global presence, the insights and experience brought by Giovanni, Liam, Carl, and Elke will be pivotal in driving our growth and delivering unparalleled value to our partners and customers.”
For further information, please contact:
Lauren Graham: EMAIL +353 89 489 2444
About Allianz Partners
Allianz Partners is a world leader in B2B2C insurance and assistance, offering global solutions that span international health and life, travel insurance, mobility and assistance. Customer driven, our innovative experts are redefining insurance services by delivering future-ready, high-tech high-touch products and solutions that go beyond traditional insurance. Our products are embedded seamlessly into our partners’ businesses, sold through intermediary channels or directly to customers through the Allianz brand. Present in over 70 countries, our 22,600 employees speak over 70 languages, handle over 72.9 million cases each year and go the extra mile to offer peace of mind to our customers around the world.
For more information, please visit: www.allianz-partners.com
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