Asia: Peak Re names new Head of Life & Health
Peak Re announced the appointment of Mr Christopher Lee as Head of Life & Health, overseeing the company’s life and health, including medical, reinsurance business. He will succeed Ms Angela Koechli, who is leaving the company to pursue other interests.
Mr Lee has 27 years of Life & Health insurance and reinsurance experience with an intimate understanding of the Southeast Asia markets. Prior to joining Peak Re, he was the Head of Client Markets for Southeast Asia at Swiss Re and before that, he was with Allianz SE Reinsurance, where he was responsible for the South East Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China markets. He was also with AIA and Prudential plc in earlier years.
Asia: KPMG expands regional actuarial team, hires senior insurance executives
KPMG has significantly strengthened the insurance team in Asia-Pacific with a number of recent senior recruits including three new actuarial partners based in Hong Kong.
Mr Paul Melody will lead the actuarial services practice for China and Asia Pacific. He was formerly a managing director with Willis Towers Watson’s life insurance consulting business in Asia. Mr Melody has 30 years’ experience, the last eight of which have been in Asia.
Mr Michael van Vuuren has worked in the industry for 15 years and joins from EY London where he was most recently an insurance advisory partner within the life actuarial practice.
Mr Marco Warmelink joins from Willis Towers Watson’s life insurance consulting business in Asia where he was a regional director. He has 20 years of industry experience with over 12 years in Asia.
Asia: Kuwait Re strengthens office with new General Manager
Mr Abdallah Badaoui has been appointed as General Manager & Principal Officer of Kuwait Re Far East Regional Office (FERO). Mr Badaoui, a civil engineer, has, during the last 18 years held many reinsurance managerial positions, the latest being the CEO of Oman Reinsurance for four years.
He will be in charge of implementing the new development strategy for Kuwait Re and reinforcing proximity service in the Asian markets.
Australia: QBE announces new CEO
QBE has appointed Group CFO Mr Pat Regan as CEO Australian and New Zealand operations.
Mr Regan had been acting in the role since Tim Plant’s departure in August. He will start as CEO on March 1, with a global search for a new Group CFO underway.
CFO Australian and New Zealand operations Mr Victor Walter will become Acting Group CFO until a permanent appointment is made.
Australia: The Australian Insurance Law Association elects new President
Mr August Kench, who is Assistant Vice President, Casualty Claims - Asia Pacific with Liberty International Underwriters (LIU), was elected to be President by the board of the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA).
Mr Stephen Williams, from Kott Gunning, in Perth, was elected Vice-President; outgoing President Ms Sue Vidler, from Assetinsure, in Sydney, is now Treasurer; and Melbourne barrister Ms Kim Bradey continues in her role as Secretary.
Mr Kench joined LIU in early 2015. He has been an AILA member for more than 20 years and is currently NSW President.
Singapore Reinsurer’s Association announces new Chairman
The Singapore Reinsurers’ Association (SRA) has announced that Mr Marc Haushofer, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific of Validus Re, will succeed Mr Alain Flandrin, Chief Executive Officer (Asia Pacific) of Partner Re Asia, as its Chairman with effect from 1 January 2017.
Singapore: Chaucer expands regional treaty capabilities
Chaucer, the specialist Lloyd’s insurance group, has appointed Mr Ong Chee Koon as Class Underwriter to join its newly expanded regional treaty team in Singapore. Mr Ong, a non-marine treaty specialist, will report to Mr Tom Graham, Senior Treaty Underwriter at Chaucer Singapore.
Mr Ong is an experienced treaty underwriter with over 14 years of market experience. He joins Chaucer from Swiss Re, where he was responsible for the Agriculture portfolio.
Thailand: Coface appoints new Country Manager
Coface is appointing Mr Thiti Musuwan as Country Manager of Coface in Thailand. Mr Musuwan will manage the operations and develop Coface’s credit insurance and credit management services in Thailand.
He has extensive experience of over 20 years in banking and financial services with multi-national and local financial institutions. Based in Bangkok, Mr Musuwan will report directly to Mr Bhupesh Gupta, CEO of Coface in the Asia Pacific Region.
Global: Sompo Canopius makes management changes as Group CEO Davies steps down
Sompo Canopius AG announced that Mr Stuart Davies is stepping down from his role as group CEO and all other related responsibilities, effective immediately.
Mr Davies joined Sompo Canopius in 2015 with a mandate to lead the group through a period of change and has been very successful in doing so. He has charted a new course for Sompo Canopius as it works to fulfil its potential as part of Sompo Holdings, spearheading a renewed focus on profitability and agility.
Mr Michael Watson, founder and currently non-executive chairman of Sompo Canopius, will become executive chairman. He will be supported by Mr Mike Duffy, group chief underwriting officer, and Mr Paul Cooper, group chief financial & operating officer.
Global: XL Catlin makes changes to M&A, InsurTech and reinsurance units
XL Catlin has hired Mr Richard Winborn as the new head of international M&A insurance. Mr Winborn was most recently head of specialty products at Liberty. He will be the first M&A underwriter XL Catlin has had in London for around 18 months.
XL Catlin has also appointed Mr Vincent Branch as CEO of its InsurTech unit Accelerate. Mr Branch was previously chief underwriting officer and chief actuary for UK medical insurance specialist VitalityHealth.
Mr Jonathan (Jon) Gale, currently chief executive, London reinsurance, will take over as chief executive Bermuda reinsurance, subject to Bermuda immigration approval, while Mr Rob Littlemore, currently underwriting director London Reinsurance, is being promoted to chief executive, London reinsurance.
Both will report to Mr Charles Cooper, currently chief executive, Bermuda reinsurance, who will become chief executive of XL Catlin’s reinsurance business group as of 1 January 2017.
Global: Chubb announces new head of digital
Chubb has announced that Mr Patrick Suter will take the position of head of digital product development for SMEs in the UK and Ireland and will be responsible for creating new digital products, generating insight to better tailor products for customers and supporting the growth of the company’s SME portfolio.
He will be based in London, reporting to Ms Ruth Polyblank, head of SME for Chubb in the UK and Ireland.
Global: Swiss Re appoints new Client Manager
Swiss Re has confirmed the appointment of former Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) executive Ms Vicki Mullen as Client Manager for Global Partnerships.
Ms Mullen has more than 20 years’ experience across government, regulatory affairs, and life and general insurance.
Global: Guy Carpenter appoints President of new International Division
Guy Carpenter has announced the appointment of Mr James Nash to the newly-created role of President, International, subject to regulatory approval. Mr Nash, who currently runs Guy Carpenter’s Asia Pacific operations, will continue reporting to Mr Peter Hearn, President & CEO of Guy Carpenter, and will relocate to London.
Guy Carpenter’s International Division will comprise of all operations in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America and Caribbean, and Asia Pacific regions. A successor for Mr Nash in Asia Pacific will be announced in 2017. Mr Nash joined Guy Carpenter in 1985 and assumed his present role in 2008.