Michael Diekmann Life and Professional Contributions

Michael Diekmann is a German businessman with a long and distinguished career. He was born in 1950.

Diekmann studied economics at the University of Hamburg, where he earned his degree. He began his professional career at the insurance company, Allianz.

As a young executive, Diekmann quickly rose through the ranks at Allianz, becoming a key figure in the company's management. He played a crucial role in the company's international expansion.

Michael Diekmann's early life was marked by a clear distinction between his twin brother's interest in engineering and his own path. He studied law and philosophy at Goettingen University, earning a degree that would serve as a foundation for his future endeavors.

Michael Diekmann began his career with Allianz in 1988 after becoming frustrated with his own business, a publishing house that focused on travel guides.

He later worked in Australia and the United States, where he successfully revamped the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, the Allianz subsidiary there. Diekmann's leadership in the US helped put the company on the road to recovery.

Diekmann moved to Singapore in 1996 to run Allianz's Asia-Pacific business front, and his aggressive management style helped turn around underperforming subsidiaries.

In 2003, Diekmann took over as CEO of Allianz after Henning Schulte-Noelle stepped down. He was a much more aggressive manager than his predecessor and was tasked with turning the company around.

Diekmann introduced several radical changes to bring Allianz back into the black, including slashing costs by cutting employees, eliminating noncore businesses, and increasing capital through a $5 billion rights issue. He also established tough profitability targets to turn around the company's subsidiaries.

In less than a year, Diekmann was able to bring Allianz back into the black, with profits nearing $2 billion in 2003, and increase share prices significantly. His charm and open management style won over Allianz employees, many of whom had grown weary of the closed-door approach of his predecessor.

Diekmann's track record in turning around underperforming subsidiaries was praised by analysts, who noted his success in the United States and Australia. As of 2004, he was still working to fix Dresdner Bank while moving closer to his goal of making Allianz a global force in the insurance industry.

Diekmann's leadership style was described by a Frankfurt senior investment banker as "Schonungslosigkeit" or ruthlessness, which was seen as a virtue.

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Michael Diekmann has written several books on outdoor adventures and insurance. His book "Wildnis privat. Der Ratgeber für Kanutouren in Kanada" was first published in 1982 and has since been updated.

This book was co-authored with Florian Thieme and is a guide for canoe tours in Canada. It's a great resource for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors.

In addition to his writing, Diekmann has also been featured in various publications, including a 2006 article in Die Zeit and a 2007 article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

Michael Diekmann has been a member of several corporate boards throughout his career. He currently serves as a Member of the European Advisory Board for Google Cloud Platform, a position he has held since 2022.

One of his notable roles is as the Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board for Fresenius, a position he has held since 2015. This is a significant role that demonstrates his expertise in corporate governance.

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Michael Diekmann has also been a member of the Supervisory Board for Siemens since 2008. This long-standing relationship with Siemens highlights his commitment to the company and its values.

Here is a list of some of the corporate boards Michael Diekmann has been a part of:

In addition to these current roles, Michael Diekmann has also served on the Supervisory Board for BASF from 2003 to 2019, and as the Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board for Linde from 2003 to 2017.

Michael Diekmann is a German businessman.

He was born in 1954 in Germany.

Michael Diekmann is the former CEO of Allianz, a multinational financial services company.

He took over as CEO in 2008.

During his tenure as CEO, Diekmann led the company through significant changes.

The company expanded its operations and increased its global presence.

Diekmann has received several awards for his contributions to the business world.

He was recognized for his leadership and vision in the insurance industry.

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