From Zurich in Switzerland, CEOAFRICA has gathered that the Chairman of Zurich Insurance, Josef Ackermann has voluntarily resigned his appointment.

It was gathered that his resignation was triggered by an apparent suicide of its chief financial officer Pierre Wauthier, whose family blamed his death on Mr. Ackermann.

Speaking through a statement released after his resignation, Mr. Ackermann said,” The unexpected death of Pierre Wauthier has deeply shocked me. I have reasons to believe that the family is of the opinion that I should take my share of responsibility, as unfounded as any allegations might be.”

Sources also disclosed that Mr. Ackermann added that his resignation was to avoid damaging the good reputation of Zurich Insurance.

Meanwhile, the board had accepted his resignation with deep regret, and Vice-Chairman Tom de Swaan was directed to take over with immediate effect.

It was also gathered that Zurich Insurance Company is one of the leading companies in the world, as they employs about 60,000 people in 170 countries.

Little insight into the life of the deseased made it clear that Mr Wauthier was a British and French citizen and he joined the company about seventeen years ago. He worked with US bank JP Morgan before joining Zurich Insurance Company. His corpse was found inside his room on Monday.