Zurich Appoints Anita Gabat as UK Head of Commercial Insurance to Drive Resilience
By Lauren Towner · 21 September 2026
In brief: Zurich has appointed Anita Gabat as Head of Commercial Insurance in the UK, succeeding Frank Streidl who moves to a global energy leadership role.
| Appointee | Anita Gabat |
|---|---|
| New Role | Head of Commercial Insurance, UK |
| Experience | Nearly 20 years |
| Predecessor | Frank Streidl |

Zurich has appointed Anita Gabat as Head of Commercial Insurance in the UK, reinforcing its commitment to helping commercial customers navigate risk and build resilience in an increasingly complex environment.
Anita is currently Head of Property in Zurich’s UK commercial business and will assume responsibility for the full Commercial Insurance portfolio, subject to regulatory approval.
Anita brings nearly 20 years of experience at Zurich in finance, strategy, distribution and commercial underwriting roles across Austria, Spain, Switzerland, New York and London. She has led both international portfolios and multinational programmes.
Anita succeeds Frank Streidl, who will take on a new global role as Head of Energy, where he will oversee Zurich’s strategy and portfolio in these key specialty lines worldwide. This underscores Zurich’s focus on specialty lines and the growing importance of energy transition and global trade.
“Anita’s appointment reflects our strong commitment to developing high-quality talent internally and the importance we place on delivering for our commercial customers. Her leadership and experience in property underwriting, combined with her commitment to customer-focused solutions, makes her ideally placed to lead our Commercial Insurance business in the UK. We would also like to thank Frank for his significant contribution over many years and wish him every success in his new global role.” said Drazen Jaksic, Zurich UK CEO.
“I’m excited to take on this role at such an important time for our customers and the market. I began my career with Zurich in Austria and, over the past two decades, have worked across multiple markets and disciplines, with each role helping to shape the experience and perspective needed to lead our Commercial business today. I look forward to working closely with our UK team, brokers and customers to build on the strong foundation Frank has created and drive the business forward.” said Anita Gabat, Head of Commercial Insurance Zurich UK.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the new Head of Commercial Insurance at Zurich UK?
Anita Gabat has been appointed as the Head of Commercial Insurance for Zurich in the UK. She previously served as the Head of Property in Zurich’s UK commercial business and brings nearly 20 years of experience across finance, strategy, and underwriting roles in multiple global markets.
What is Frank Streidl's new role at Zurich?
Frank Streidl is transitioning to a new global role as Head of Energy at Zurich. In this position, he will oversee the company's strategy and portfolio for specialty energy lines worldwide, focusing on the growing importance of the global energy transition.
What experience does Anita Gabat have in the insurance industry?
Anita Gabat has nearly 20 years of experience at Zurich, having worked in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, New York, and London. Her background spans finance, strategy, distribution, and commercial underwriting, including leadership of international portfolios and multinational programmes.
About the companies
Zurich Group
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Companies in this story: Zurich Group
People in this story: Frank Streidl, Anita Gabat, Drazen Jaksic