11 APAC insurance people moves of the week

InsuranceAsia News wraps up the people moves from the insurance industry in Asia this week.

1. Howden snaps up 40-year Marsh veteran

Howden has hired Marsh managing director Rebecca Poon as chief client officer for Hong Kong.

Poon will be based in Hong Kong and will formally join Howden after completing the contractual obligations to her current employer, the broker told InsuranceAsia News.

She has been at Marsh Hong Kong for 42 years, having started at JLT. Poon was most recently head of corporate at Marsh.

Howden has also appointed Vladimir Ljubisavljevic as the divisional director for its marine, cargo and logistics practice.

Read the full stories here and here.

2. Aon promotes head of North Asia, head of Southeast Asia

Aon has promoted Qin Lu to head of North Asia and Andrew Minnitt to head of Southeast Asia, with immediate effect. Lu will expand his current role as head of Greater China to lead the newly-created North Asia subregion, including Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, to better support clients, navigate market complexities, and further advance the Aon United strategy according to the update.

Meanwhile, Minnitt will broaden his existing responsibilities as head of Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia to oversee the newly established Southeast Asia subregion, which consists of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. He will also remain as CEO of Singapore, a role he has held since joining Aon Singapore in 2019.

Aon also appointed Bonjay Koo as its enterprise client leader, Asia Pacific for South Korea.

Read the full stories here and here. 

3. Agile appoints lead for construction build out

Australian MGA Agile has launched construction underwriting with the appointment of Gordon McNab (pictured) as head of construction with immediate effect. Victoria-based McNab has been working with Agile in preparation for the launch, and now steps up to lead the class, which is backed by Agile Underwriting Services Syndicate AUS2427 and a panel of leading Lloyd’s underwriters.

Read the full stories here. 

4. QBE Malaysia appoints CEO, succeeding Sunther Kuppan

QBE Insurance Malaysia has appointed Soon Keong Tio as its new CEO, effective September 1. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Tio succeeds Sunther Kuppan, who is retiring after nearly five years in the role.

Read the full story here. 

5. Gallagher India appoints renewable energy lead

Gallagher India has appointed Ishita Gogia as the practice lead for renewable energy. Gogia joins from WTW, where she was the North and East India vice president for renewable energy since April.

Gallagher Australia has also appointed Marsh McLennan’s Alex Lumby as chief executive officer.

Read the full stories here and here. 

6. Etiqa General Takaful promotes new CEO

Malaysia’s Etiqa General Takaful (EGTB) has appointed Khairoel Faiezy Hasnan (pictured) as its new CEO, effective from September 1. Kuala Lumpur-based Hasnan replaces Shahrul Azuan Mohamed, who has retired after serving Etiqa for 20 years, including five years as CEO of EGTB.

Read the full story here.

7. Lockton duo join Gallagher Re’s Australia team

Gallagher Re has added a pair of executive directors to its team in Australia. Gallagher Re said former Lockton partners Max Garratt and Russell Hails had joined its team as executive directors in Sydney. Garrat and Hails had been partners at Lockton in Australia since March 2022, having also worked together at Willis Re.

Read the full story here.

8. Marsh Pacific names new president as Josh Roach departs

Marsh has appointed Damian Schinck as president of its Pacific operations, succeeding Josh Roach, who has left the company after 15 years with the firm. Melbourne-based Schinck will oversee operations in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and will be responsible for Marsh’s client portfolio across the region and the execution of its growth strategy. He will report to David Bryant, CEO of Marsh McLennan Pacific.

Read the full story here.

9. Australian MGA Lion Underwriting names professional lines buildout lead

Australian MGA Lion Underwriting has tapped veteran Quanta Insurance executive Chris Edwards (pictured) to lead the buildout of its professional lines offering. Lion Underwriting said that Edwards has joined the firm as head of professional lines from the Steadfast Group-backed MGA that specialises in professional indemnity, where he has spent the last eight years as executive general manager.

Read the full story here.

10. BHSI promotes head of marine for Australasia

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Anna Spink as its new head of marine for Australasia. With nearly 35 years of experience in the insurance industry, spanning the UK and Australian markets, Sydney-based Spink joined BHSI in 2018 and was most recently national manager for corporate property in Australia.

Read the full story here.

11. WTW strengthens Southeast Asia H&B leadership with trio of appointments

WTW has announced three senior leadership appointments aimed at driving growth in its health and benefits (H&B) business across Southeast Asia.  Fong Han Wei has been appointed as the head of health and benefits for Singapore. Eva Liu has been promoted to head the H&B business for Southeast Asia, excluding Singapore. Lim Choo Ho has been elevated as the head of H&B in Malaysia.

Willis, a WTW business, has also appointed Ameya Kane and Arjun Cherukunnathu as vice presidents of its financial and executive and professional risks (finex) team in India.

Read the full stories here and here. 

Other moves you may have missed

Fairfax-owned (re)insurer Allied World has appointed Jolene Chua as vice president for accident and health (A&H) in Asia, while Sompo has promoted See Ju Chua to senior vice president and head of capital management for Asia Pacific.

Zurich Kotak General Insurance (India) has appointed Birendra Mohanty as chief business officer. 

For more InsuranceAsia News (IAN) people moves at brokers, insurers, reinsurers, insurtechs, specialty players, MGAs and loss adjusters across Asia Pacific’s fast-growing (re)insurance markets click here.