ING has announced that it intends to appoint Lard Friese as CEO of Nationale-Nederlanden, and chairman of the Dutch intermediary division, effective September 1, 2008, subject to approval of De Nederlandsche Bank.

Mr Friese currently is the CEO of Ceska pojistovna, an insurance and pensions company in the Czech Republic. He will take over the position of Ludo Wijngaarden, who will step down as of August 1, 2008. Mr Friese will report directly to Jacques Vaucleroy, ING Group’s executive board member responsible for insurance in Europe.

Mr Vaucleroy said: Lard has a broad background in the insurance industry in the Netherlands as well as in other international markets. He is an accomplished executive who has proven to be capable of leading large organizations in complex environments. I am confident he will successfully lead the organization in delivering on its strategic direction and ongoing transformation process.