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People on the move

Source: Asia Insurance Review | Oct 2017

Global Asia C-Suite People

Asia/Global: Manulife announces structural and leadership changes
Manulife has announced a number of important structural and leadership changes to drive better alignment with its strategic priorities, accelerate the company’s growth, optimise legacy blocks of business in North America and leverage Manulife’s talent across geographies.
 
   In Asia, Mr Anil Wadhwani has been appointed President and CEO of Manulife Asia, effective 13 November 2017. Mr Wadhwani is a global financial services leader who has spent his 25-year career with Citi, primarily in growth roles across consumer banking in Asia, with a focus on customer experience and digitization. 
 
   He has extensive wealth management and insurance distribution experience, and most recently served as the global head of operations for Citi’s consumer bank, based in New York. He has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and the US. This global perspective, and the varied leadership roles he has performed, will be valuable as Manulife Asia embarks on its next stage of growth.
 
   Globally, Mr Paul Lorentzhas been appointed Head, Global Wealth and Asset Management, succeeding Mr Kai Sotorp who has decided to retire. Mr Lorentz joined Manulife in 1993 and his appointment is effective 1 October 2017, and he will report to Mr Warren Thomson, Manulife’s Chief Investment Officer. 
 
   Mr Naveed Irshad who is currently CEO of Manulife Singapore, has been appointed Head, North America Legacy Business, effective 1 January 2018. Mr Irshad’s career with Manulife spans 20 years, and includes extensive life insurance, product risk and reinsurance experience. He has worked in the US and Canada, in addition to transforming Manulife’s Singapore business. Mr Irshad will report jointly to the heads of Manulife’s US and Canadian businesses and will join Manulife’s Executive Committee.
 
   Mr Philip Witherington, currently the interim President and CEO of Manulife Asia, has been appointed Manulife’s Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 January 2018, subject to immigration approvals. He is taking over from Mr Steve Roder who has decided to retire for personal reasons effective 31 December 2017.
 
   Before taking his current role, Mr Witherington served as Manulife Asia’s CFO since 2014, contributing significantly to its growth and financial performance and working to improve its competitive position. 

 
Chubb makes new cyber appointments for Asia Pacific
Chubb has made two appointments for its regional cyber team in Asia Pacific.
 
    Mr Andrew Taylor has assumed the position of Cyber Underwriting Manager for Asia Pacific, responsible for the expansion of Chubb’s cyber insurance business, from guidelines to ratings and portfolio management, in the region. Based in Sydney, he will lead efforts to craft solutions and deliver expertise to help clients manage and mitigate cyber risks. 
 
   Mr John DePeters has been appointed as Cyber Underwriter for Asia Pacific. With over five years of cyber underwriting experience, he is tasked with supporting Mr Taylor to drive the growth of Chubb’s cyber insurance business across the region. Mr DePeters relocated from San Francisco to Singapore to assume his new position.
Both Mr Taylor and Mr DePeters report to Mr Stanley Wong, Head of Financial Lines for Asia Pacific. 

 
Euler Hermes names new ASEAN & China CEOs to lead expansion 
Euler Hermes, the world’s leading trade credit insurer, has made two senior executive appointments in its Asia Pacific region. 
 
   Mr Clemens Philippi is appointed CEO of Euler Hermes ASEAN, with responsibility for the company’s activities in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. He was the deputy CEO for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) Japan before being promoted to regional head of market management. Mr Philippi will be based in Singapore. 
 
   Mr Benoit Ganzmann has been appointed CEO of Euler Hermes China, based in Shanghai. Mr Ganzmann previously worked for Euler Hermes in China for several years before being promoted regional risk director in 2015. He succeeds Mr Victor Jiang who joined Allianz China General Insurance as chief transformation officer in July.
 
   Both Messrs Philippi and Ganzmann will report to Mr Holger Schaefer, head of Euler Hermes APAC region. 

 
XL Catlin strengthens insurance capabilities across Asia with key appointments
XL Catlin’s insurance operations has appointed Ms Elishe Quek as Underwriter, Casualty, based in Singapore; Ms Alice Chong as Senior Underwriter, Casualty, and Ms Alice Kwok as Marine Underwriter, the latter two based in Hong Kong.
 
   Ms Quek will be responsible for retail Liability insurance in Singapore and wholesale Casualty insurance across Asia. Ms Chong will be responsible for developing XL Catlin’s Casualty portfolio in Hong Kong.
 
   Ms Quek brings with her more than 22 years of experience in the insurance industry. She joined XL Catlin from AIG Asia Pacific Insurance where she was a Casualty Underwriter. Ms Chong has 11 years’ experience. She spent nine years at AIG in Hong Kong where she most recently served as Casualty Underwriting Manager. 
 
   Ms Kwok has more than 10 years’ of experience in marine claims, broking and underwriting in the Hong Kong market. She joined XL Catlin from QBE-HKSI where she focused on marine hull and marine liabilities underwriting.

 
Asia Pacific: PartnerRe appoints new CEO Life & Health
PartnerRe Ltd has appointed Mr Jerome Matrundola has to the new position of CEO Life & Health, Asia Pacific, to lead its Life and Health business operations in that region effective 11 September 2017. 
 
   Mr Matrundola will be responsible for growing and enhancing PartnerRe’s presence in the life and health reinsurance market in Asia Pacific. He will work with PartnerRe’s existing teams in Singapore and Zurich, leveraging PartnerRe’s leading Life and Health expertise and solutions to develop innovative and holistic reinsurance solutions specifically geared to the needs of the Asia Pacific markets. 
 
   Mr Matrundola will be based in PartnerRe’s Hong Kong office reporting to Mr Marc Archambault, CEO Life & Health and Group Executive Committee member. 

 
JLT Re to welcome new executive in Asia Pacific
JLT Re has announced that Mr Carsten Thienel will be joining JLT Re in Asia Pacific reporting to Mr Stuart Beatty, CEO of Asia Pacific, JLT Re and Mr Bradley Maltese Deputy CEO, UK & Europe, JLT Re.
 
   Mr Thienel comes to JLT Re with over 30 years of industry experience from Ed where he is CEO Reinsurance for Asia Pacific. He is expected to join in early 2018 and will be based in JLT Re’s Singapore office, subject to applicable contractual obligations.

 
JLT Asia appoints Head of Risk and Analytics
JLT Asia has appointed Mr Kevin Snowdon as Head of Risk and Analytics upon completion of his contractual obligations at his previous employer. 
 
   Mr Snowdon is an industry veteran, with more than 30 years’ experience helping organisations consider risk in its broadest sense. As a Specialty Leader, Mr Snowdon will report to Mr Warren Downey, CEO of JLT Specialty Asia.

 
Willis Towers Watson has new leaders for South Asia and for Hong Kong/Taiwan 
Willis Towers Watson has appointed new leaders in Asia. Mr David Maneval has been appointed as South Asia Property and Casualty (P&C) Sales and Practice Leader for its insurance consulting and software business in South Asia. 
 
   Based in Singapore, Mr Maneval will report to Mr Ken Brown, Head of South Asia and Emerging Markets for Willis Towers Watson’s insurance consulting and software business. In his new role, he is responsible for leading and developing the non-life insurance consulting practice across South Asia, covering countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. 
 
   Mr Albert Li is appointed Head of Hong Kong and Taiwan for its Insurance Consulting and Technology business. He will be responsible for developing opportunities and supporting clients in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Based in Hong Kong, Mr Li will report to Mr Richard Collis, Managing Director of Willis Towers Watson’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business in Asia Pacific.

 
Guy Carpenter announces senior appointments in the Pacific Region
Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, has appointed Mr Andre Eisele to the role of CEO of the Pacific Region. In addition, Mr Heinrich Eder will join the Guy Carpenter Advisory Board for the Pacific Region.
 
   Mr Eisele will join Guy Carpenter from Swiss Re, where in the past three years, he served as Head of Client Markets Property and Casualty for Australia and New Zealand. He will be based in Sydney and report to Mr Tony Gallagher, Asia Pacific CEO.
 
   Mr Eder’s last position was Managing Director of Munich Holdings of Australasia in charge of life and non-life operations from 2005 to 2016. 

 
Australia: QBE Insurance Group announces Group CEO succession
QBE has announced that Mr John Neal, Group CEO, will be stepping down after five years in the role. 
 
   The Board of Directors has appointed Mr Patrick (Pat) Regan, CEO Australian and New Zealand Operations and previously Group CFO, to succeed Mr Neal on 1 January 2018, with a four month leadership transition. Mr Regan will remain on the Board as an executive director.

 
HSBC Insurance appoints new Hong Kong CEO
HSBC Insurance (Asia) Limited and HSBC Life (International) Limited (collectively known as “HSBC Insurance”) has appointed Mr Edward Moncreiffe as its Hong Kong CEO with immediate effect. 
 
   Mr Moncreiffe will oversee HSBC’s insurance and pension business in Hong Kong. He has been the Interim CEO and Head of Distribution Head of Insurance Hong Kong since the beginning of 2017. During this period, HSBC Insurance executed its ambitious growth agenda under his leadership. Achievements include the launch of the market-leading ONEdna mobile genetic testing proposition and the launch of the flagship Wealth Goal Insurance Plan. 

 
United India Insurance has new CMD
Mr M Nagaraja Sarma has been appointed the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of the United India Insurance Company Ltd. Mr Sarma is at present the general manager, Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. 
 
   He has been appointed the CMD for five years, said the Department of Personnel and Training in an order.

 
Coface appoints new Country Manager for India
Coface has appointed Mr Bhavesh Patel as Country Manager of Coface in India effective from 1 September. Mr Patel succeeds Mr Samuel Jesuratnam who has been appointed as Country Manager of Coface in Singapore.
 
   Mr Patel who has 29 years of experience in non-life insurance across various lines, will be based in Mumbai. He will manage the operation and business development of trade credit insurance services business in India. Before joining Coface, Mr Patel was Senior Vice President of Marsh India.

 
Malaysia: Etiqa Takaful has new CEO
Etiqa Takaful Bhd has appointed Mr Zafri Ab Halim as its new CEO with effect from 1 September.
 
   He reports directly to the CEO of Maybank Ageas Holding Berhad, Mr Kamaludin Ahmad, and is responsible for driving the takaful business and overseeing the performance of Etiqa Takaful in Malaysia. 
 
   Mr Zafri has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries. He joined Etiqa from Great Eastern Takaful Berhad, where he served as CEO.

 
Malaysia: Milliman Board appoints Principal 
Ms Farzana Ismail, who heads Milliman’s Life Insurance & Takaful practice in Malaysia has been promoted to Principal. 
 
   With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, Ms Farzana first joined Milliman’s London office in 2004, leaving to return to Malaysia in 2012. In 2016, she re-joined Milliman to head its new Life Insurance consulting team in Kuala Lumpur, as part of the company’s expansion in the region. She also plays a prominent role in Milliman’s consulting to Takaful companies globally. 

 
Singapore: Chubb appoints Head of Financial Lines
Chubb has appointed Mr Johannes Gschossmann as Head of Financial Lines in Singapore. He joined the company from Allianz and reports to Mr Liam Burrell, Division Head of Property & Casualty (P&C). 
 
   Mr Gschossmann brings with him more than 10 years of industry and global experience and in his new role, he will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Financial Lines portfolio in Singapore, including all underwriting and market-facing functions. In addition, he will spearhead product development as well as underwriting initiatives to achieve sustainable growth. 

 
HDI Global SE Singapore has new Managing Director
Mr Graham Silton has been appointed as Managing Director of HDI Global SE Singapore with effect from 1 October 2017. He takes over from Mr Nicholas Cheng who will retire at the end of 2017. 
 
   Mr Silton moved to Singapore from Sydney in April 2017 as Underwriting Manager Property ASEAN and Australia to run and successfully grow the Property portfolio in the region. 

 
Taiwan: FSC has new Chairman
Mr Wellington L Koo was sworn in as the FSC Chairman on 8 Sept 2017. Mr Koo’s past experience as listed on the website includes being President of the Taiwan Law Society (2009-2010), President of Judicial Reform Foundation (2010-2011) and President of Taiwan Association for Human Rights (2013) and as Legislator (2016). 

 
JLT Re appoints new MD for its Thailand operations
Khun Parkpoome Nivatvongs (Poome) has joined JLT Re’s expanding Asia Pacific management team as Managing Director of Thailand, reporting to Mr Kenny Moyes CEO of Asia, JLT Re.
 
   Poome joins from Willis Re where he was a Divisional Director (Head of Thailand) based in Singapore, previous to that he has held a number of senior positions in Thailand, at Asian Reinsurance Corporation, Tokio Marine, and as the Reinsurance Manager of Southeast Insurance Co., Ltd Thailand.

 
Global: MAPFRE Global Risks appoints new head of International Underwriting and new Aviation Underwriter
MAPFRE Global Risks (MGR), the MAPFRE unit that specialises in providing comprehensive insurance solutions for multinationals, has appointed Mr Carlos Vasquez as International Head of Underwriting. 
 
   The company has also moved into the London international aviation market with the appointment of Mr Oscar Becerra as Aviation Underwriter. 
 
   Mr Vasquez has been promoted from within MGR to lead international underwriting, including the continued expansion in London, the strategic base for international growth of its global risks business, continental Europe and operations in North America and APAC. He replaces Mr José Antonio Ruibal who has been promoted to Chief Regions and Market Officer – Latin America. Mr Vasquez will move to London from Madrid and will report to Mr Chris Smith, Chief Regions & Markets Officer – International.
 
   Mr Becerra who previously worked at Willis will link closely with MGR’s aviation team in Madrid. He will report to Mr Greg Harris, MGR UK Director.

 
Global: Zurich appoints CEO for its International business
Zurich has appointed Mr Peter Huber as CEO, Zurich International. He will report to Mr Patrick Manley, CEO, Zurich Insurance plc & Chief Administrative Officer for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA).
 
   Mr Huber will lead Zurich’s overall International business which brings together the current international life businesses in the Isle of Man, Middle East and Zurich International Corporate Solutions (including Zurich Eurolife based in Luxembourg).

 
Global: Willis Re announces new CEO 
Willis Re has announced that Mr James Kent will be succeeding Mr John Cavanagh when the latter steps down from his position as global CEO. 
 
   Mr Cavanagh will retire from Willis Towers Watson at the end of December 2017, handing over leadership of Willis Re to Mr Kent, previously deputy global CEO. 
 
   Mr Kent joined Willis Re in 2004 and has served as the global deputy CEO since December 2016. Mr Cavanagh’s career in the (re)insurance market started in July 1975. He has led the Willis Re business as CEO since 2012. 

 
Global: Guy Carpenter announces senior Global Specialties promotion 
Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, has announced that Mr James Boyce is promoted to Deputy CEO, Global Specialties, effective immediately. Based in London, he will report to Mr Kevin Fisher, CEO, Global Specialties.
 
   In his new role, Mr Boyce will work closely with Mr. Fisher and the Heads of Marine & Energy, Aviation and North American London Placement, focusing on delivering against the strategic objectives of the Global Specialties division. He will also maintain his current duties as Head of Non-Marine Specialty. A 
 
Global: Marsh announces new global management structure
Marsh has announced the firm’s new global management structure, including new appointments to its executive management team, effective immediately. 
 
   Marsh’s global management structure includes the newly-formed Global Risk & Digital (GR&D) division, which brings together Marsh’s wide range of innovative solutions and products for small commercial businesses, families and individuals. GR&D also comprises Marsh’s consulting practices and its data, digital, and analytics solutions. Mr John Drzik, previously President of Global Risk & Specialties, is appointed President of Global Risk & Digital. Mr Drzik will report to Mr John Doyle, President and CEO of Marsh and will continue to serve on Marsh’s Executive Committee.
 
   Marsh’s management structure also includes the newly-formed Global Placement & Specialties division, which encompasses Marsh’s insurance placement activities as well as its global industry and practice specialties. Marsh’s Global Placement operations include Retail and Specialty, Wholesale, and Portfolio Solutions. Global Specialties operations include Aviation, Construction, Credit, Energy, Marine, Private Equity and M&A (PEMA) and Infrastructure. Mr Dean Klisura is appointed President, Global Placement and Specialties. In this role, Mr Klisura will report to Mr Doyle and serve on Marsh’s Executive Committee. 
 
   Marsh’s new structure also includes Marsh International, which comprises operations in Africa, Asia, Continental Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, Pacific, and UK & Ireland. Mr Flavio Piccolomini is appointed President of Marsh International, reporting to Mr Doyle. In this role, Mr Piccolomini will serve on Marsh’s Executive Committee and will relocate to London. Previously CEO of Marsh Continental Europe, Mr Piccolomini will continue to lead Continental Europe on an interim basis.
 
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