Hannover Re: Wilhelm Zeller retires

Wilhelm Zeller retires

Hannover, 30 June 2009: Having led the Hannover Re Group for more
than 13 years, Chief Executive Officer Wilhelm Zeller is retiring
today as planned.

After graduating in business administration with a major in insurance
studies, Mr. Zeller embarked on his professional career in 1969 with
the Gerling Group in Cologne. One year later he moved to Zürich
Versicherungs-Gesellschaft in Frankfurt, where he headed the
Property/Casualty Germany and International Non-Life departments. In
1977 Mr. Zeller was appointed to the Board of Executive Directors of
Kölnische Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (Cologne Re). In 1995 he
also became a member of the Executive Council of the Cologne Re's new
principal shareholder, General Re Corporation in Stamford, United
States. In 1996 Mr. Zeller assumed the mantle of Chief Executive
Officer of Hannover Re and E+S Rück.

In his more than 13 years of service Wilhelm Zeller was instrumental
in shaping the company: under his leadership Hannover Re evolved into
a major global reinsurance group. Mr. Zeller restructured the Group
and established Hannover Re as a "somewhat different reinsurer". His
strategy of efficient capital management, active cycle management and
a focus on profitability rather than premium volume or market shares
as well as the strategically important expansion of life reinsurance
business made Hannover Re into a successful and strong reinsurer.

The Supervisory Board of the company has expressed its wholehearted
thanks to Mr. Zeller for his exceptional entrepreneurial
accomplishments and visionary leadership.

On 1 July 2009 Ulrich Wallin - as already announced in January -
succeeds Wilhelm Zeller as Chief Executive Officer of Hannover Re and
E+S Rück.

For further information please contact:

Press and Public Relations / Investor Relations:
Stefan Schulz (tel. +49 511 5604-1500,
e-mail: stefan.schulz@hannover-re.com)

Press and Public Relations:
Janine Bernkurth (tel. +49 511 5604-1931,
e-mail: janine.bernkurth@hannover-re.com)

Investor Relations:
Klaus Paesler (tel. +49 511 5604-1736,
e-mail: klaus.paesler@hannover-re.com)

Please visit: www.hannover-re.com

Hannover Re, with a gross premium of around 9 billion euro, is one of
the leading reinsurance groups in the world. It transacts all lines
of non-life and life and health reinsurance. It maintains business
relations with more than 5,000 insurance companies in about 150
countries. Its worldwide network consists of more than 100
subsidiaries, branch and representative offices on all five
continents with a total staff of roughly 1,900. The rating agencies
most relevant to the insurance industry have awarded Hannover Re very
strong insurer financial strength ratings (Standard & Poor's AA-
"Very Strong" and A.M. Best A "Excellent").

Disclaimer:
Some of the statements in this press release may be forward-looking
statements or statements of future expectations based on currently
available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks
and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general
economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic
loss events, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances
may cause the actual events or results to be materially different
from those anticipated by such statements. Hannover Re does not make
any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the
accuracy, completeness or updated status of such statements.
Therefore, in no case whatsoever will Hannover Re and its affiliate
companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken
in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press
release or for any related damages.

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Copyright © Hugin AS 2009. All rights reserved.