Troubled Swiss reinsurer Converium announced today it has replaced chief executive Dirk Lohmann with managing director Terry G Clarke.

The company has had a difficult six months, with claims from the Asian tsunami and the Erwin winter storm contributing to expected net losses of between $172m and $187m for 2004.

The board said they are hoping the change will help to "restore stakeholder confidence in the company."

The reinsurer's end of year results will be released on 1 March.