Asia: Now Health International announces senior promotions
Now Health International Group, an international private medical insurance (IPMI) provider, has announced three senior staff promotions in Asia.
Mr Zahir Sharif, formerly managing director for the Asia, Middle East and Africa region has been promoted to lead the entire business as managing director – Now Health International. With 20 years of experience in the insurance sector across three continents, Mr Sharif’s new global role will see him focus on delivering continued sustainable growth alongside the company’s ambitious expansion plans.
Mr Alex Dalton, previously managing director for Europe, has also had his remit extended to incorporate the Middle East and Africa region as well as operations at an executive level. He will be responsible for managing all commercial needs of the EMEA region and also focus on ensuring the company’s operational processes are fit for purpose in the long term.
Asia: Allianz Re names new CFO
Allianz SE Reinsurance Branch Asia Pacific has appointed Dr Anja Westerhoff as CFO.
Dr Westerhoff has more than 15 years of experience in the life insurance sector in Germany where she worked in several leadership roles in actuarial and accounting for Allianz Lebensversicherungs. In recent years she headed the successful implementation and introduction of the stochastic cash flow valuation model for Allianz Lebensversicherungs under the Solvency II regime and above all transformed it from a regulatory-driven approach into a supporting tool for company steering in challenging capital markets. In this role she was also responsible for actuarial and accounting of the health insurance department of Allianz Germany.
Asia: MetLife announces new leaders
MetLife has announced that Mr Kishore Ponnavolu has been named president of the company’s Asia region effective 1 September 2018. He will become a member of the company’s executive group, report to chairman, president and CEO Steven Kandarian, and be based in Hong Kong.
In addition, MetLife announced that Ms Rebecca Tadikonda has been named head of strategic growth markets, Asia, also effective 1 September 2018. She will report to Mr Ponnavolu and be based in Singapore. Mr Ponnavolu will directly oversee Japan, Korea, Australia and LumenLab, MetLife Asia’s innovation hub.
The markets for which Ms Tadikonda will have responsibility are Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Nepal and Vietnam. Mr Ponnavolu is currently head of MetLife’s auto and home business in the US, and Ms Tadikonda is MetLife’s chief strategy officer.
Australia: Clyde & Co appoints leading environmental and planning partner
Clyde & Co has appointed a new partner in Sydney. Ms Jacinta Studdert joins the firm with more than 25 years of experience in environment, development and planning law, including 18 years as a partner.
Ms Studdert’s practice focuses on environment and planning requirements, compliance, risk management and regulatory issues associated with property, project and infrastructure development. This includes residential, commercial and industrial developments, as well as the construction and operation of infrastructure, for transport, energy, resources, and waste and water facilities. Her expertise will complement the existing real estate, projects and construction, occupational, health & safety and regulatory practices at Clyde & Co.
In addition, Ms Studdert regularly advises on the requirements for environmental impact assessments, approvals and environmental licences for new projects and existing operations. Jacinta also assists clients in responding to pollution and other environmental incidents, clean-up notices and EPA/regulator investigations and actions. The use and development of contaminated land and the associated risks and liabilities remains a significant part of her practice.
Hong Kong: Willis Towers Watson appoints head of M&A Transaction Solutions
Willis Towers Watson has appointed Mr Terence Montgomery as lead of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction solutions in Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, Mr Montgomery will partner and support companies in this region by providing valuable solutions, including warranty and indemnity, tax and contingent risk insurance, that allow the transferring of liability to facilitate M&A transactions.
Mr Montgomery’s appointment is part of Willis Towers Watson’s continued and significant investment in the M&A space within the financial and executive risks (FINEX) line of business in the corporate risk and broking services. He will report to Mr Namit Mahajan, head of FINEX Asia and Mr Alex Keville, M&A practice leader, FINEX.
Mr Montgomery has over 12 years of M&A experience and has been based in Hong Kong since 2008. Prior to joining Willis Towers Watson, he was head of Asia for a specialist M&A insurance adviser. Before that, he was a senior M&A lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright. Mr Montgomery is a qualified solicitor and holds practicing certificates in England and Wales, and Hong Kong.
Hong Kong: Chubb unveils new country head for Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau
Chubb announced the appointment of Mr Stanley Wong as the new country president for Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau, effective 1 October 2018. He replaces Mr Doug White, who was recently appointed to the role of head of the major accounts division for Chubb in Asia Pacific.
In Mr Wong’s new role, he will have overall responsibility for the growth and financial results for Chubb’s operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau across all lines of business including property and casualty, accident and health and personal lines. He will report to Mr Paul McNamee, regional president for Chubb in Asia Pacific.
In addition, Mr Douglas Wong has been appointed to succeed Mr Patrick Wong as Chubb’s head of property & casualty for Hong Kong. As previously announced, Mr Patrick Wong will assume the role of global client executive, north Asia on 1 October 2018.
Mr Douglas Wong is presently head of financial lines, Greater China. He began his career in 2002 as a financial lines underwriter at an international insurer. He moved to Chubb in 2005 as financial lines manager in charge of the China portfolio. Through the years, with his talent and expertise, he has progressed to more senior roles. Mr Douglas Wong will take on his new role on 1 October and will have oversight for the full range of products and services for the property and casualty business in Hong Kong.
Philippines: NatRe names new president and CEO
The National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (Nat Re) has appointed Mr Allan Rossi Santos as its new president and CEO effective 16 August 2018, succeeding Mr Augusto Hidalgo. Prior to this, Mr Santos was Nat Re’s executive VP and COO overseeing finance, investments, data and analytics, technology, human resources and office services. He will be joined by two seasoned professionals,
Mr Christian Ladoux as chief underwriting officer and Ms Tisha Darvin as head of data and analytics.
Mr Santos has over 25 years of experience in local and international insurance/reinsurance markets in the US, Asia and Europe. He holds a master’s degree in applied maths and bachelor of science in maths, both from the University of the Philippines. He is a fellow of both the Actuarial Society of Philippines and the Society of Actuaries (US) and is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Singapore: Lockton hires new Asia benefits leader
Lockton has announced the appointment of Ms Rachael Tay as Lockton’s employee benefits leader in Asia.
She will lead a team of 40 staff across the business unit’s core geographies of Singapore, Hong Kong and China. She replaces Mr Andrew Merrilees, who became CEO of BUPA in Hong Kong earlier this year.
Ms Tay gained a PhD in materials science and engineering at Imperial College in London, before commencing employment in the aerospace industry in Singapore. She moved into employee benefits in 2004 as a director of GYC Financial Advisory, before moving to Mercer where she led the business development function.
Singapore: Willis Towers Watson expands head of Asia role to include corporate risk and broking
Willis Towers Watson announced the appointment of Mr Scott James Burnett as head of corporate risk and broking (CRB) for Asia, with immediate effect.Mr Burnett, who is also currently head of Willis Towers Watson’s Asia region, will now also head up the overall operations of CRB Asia. He will continue to be based in Singapore.
Singapore: Markel appoints senior professional and financial risks underwriter
Markel International has appointed Mr Gordon Lam as a senior professional and financial risks underwriter. He will be based in Singapore initially and is expected to relocate to the Hong Kong office in due course.
He will join the team early next year and will work closely with Mr Simon Moi, head of PFR, to manage and underwrite financial lines and casualty business in the Asian region.
Global: The Insurance Development Forum appoints Ekhosuehi Iyahen as secretary general
The Insurance Development Forum (IDF) has announced the appointment of Ms Ekhosuehi Iyahen as its first secretary general, effective 1 October 2018.
Ms Iyahen brings a unique profile to the IDF, having held senior positions at two pioneering regional catastrophe risk pools, the African Risk Capacity (ARC) and the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF).
The IDF secretary general will support and manage the IDF’s implementation efforts, driven by an operating committee and led by a high-level steering committee of 29 public and private sector leaders, including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank Group.
Further, the IDF has also announced the appointment of Mr Denis Duverne as chair of its steering committee, succeeding Mr Stephen Catlin effective 11 September 2018.
Mr Duverne is chairman of AXA Group having held senior roles, including CFO and deputy CEO, at the global insurer since 1995. He has been a member of the IDF steering committee since 2016.
Global: New cyber roles strengthen Aon’s innovation for insurers
Aon has promoted Ms Catherine Mulligan and Mr Luke Foord-Kelcey within its reinsurance solutions business to strengthen its suite of cyber products for insurers.
As global head of cyber for Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions business, Ms Mulligan will make the most of her experience in building strategic teams to bring together the global practice group to set and manage the firm’s long-term vision to deliver tangible results. She will be responsible for setting strategy, driving growth, building the team and working closely with Aon’s cyber solutions group. Ms Mulligan, who was previously head of US cyber for Aon’s reinsurance solutions business, will report to executive sponsor Mr Nick Frankland, UK CEO of Aon’s reinsurance solutions business.
Global: RMS appoints executive vice president, sales & client development
RMS has announced the appointment of seasoned business leader Mr Neil Isford to the role of executive VP, sales and client development. He will report to CEO Ms Karen White and serve as a member of the company’s executive committee. Mr Isford will oversee all aspects of client development, sales and consulting at RMS, including the global sales, professional services, solutions and customer success organisations.
Global: Richard Turner elected President of IUMI
Mr Richard Turner, European director of global risk solutions at RSA Insurance Group has been elected President of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI).
In accordance with the Articles of Association, IUMI’s Council formally elected Mr Turner at their annual meeting which was held today, the final day of the IUMI annual conference in Cape Town. Mr Turner, who has been closely associated with the global marine insurance market for 35 years, will serve a four-year term as President.
Mr Turner has had a long relationship with IUMI having served on the Executive Committee between 2011 and 2015 and, before that, as a member of the Nominating Committee.
He succeeds Mr Dieter Berg who served a four-year term.