AIG, Axa XL, Howden, Canopius, Lockton: 9 APAC insurance people moves of the week
May 23 2025 by Andrew Mullen
InsuranceAsia News wraps up the people moves from the insurance industry in Asia this week.
1. AIG Australia & New Zealand CEO departs
AIG Australia and New Zealand CEO Grant Cairns will leave the insurer to pursue a different path in the industry, InsuranceAsia News understands. The insurer has appointed Kathleen Warden as general manager for Australia, effective immediately, subject to regulatory approval.
She will report directly to Chris Colahan, regional president for AIG Asia Pacific, and continue to serve on the Asia Pacific leadership team.
AIG has also appointed Thanathon Kiratipasuk as general manager and CEO for Thailand, effective immediately and subject to applicable approvals, according to Colahan.
Read the full story here and here.
2. Axa XL hands out expanded greater China CEO role
Axa XL has given Jamie Chambers an expanded role as CEO for greater China, effective from June 20. Chambers will continue to lead Hong Kong business while also taking on broader leadership responsibilities across China, Macau, and Taiwan.
Axa XL has promoted Tavpraneet Singh to CUO for international financial lines for APAC and Europe. London-based Singh is replacing Ana Dores, who is taking on a new role as country leader for Iberia, effective from June 1.
Read the full story here and here.
3. Howden India continues M&A insurance team expansion
Howden has appointed Shreya Iyer (pictured) as co-head of transactional risk for India, according to a LinkedIn update. Mumbai-based Iyer joins from rival Marsh where she was most recently a vice president.
Read the full story here.
4. Canopius expands APAC leadership with double appointment
Specialty and P&C insurer Canopius Group has named Chen Zhang as APAC head of claims and also handed Channing Chiu the newly created role of regional strategy and transformation lead. The Singapore-based pair will report to APAC and MENA CEO Soon Keen Lee.
The specialty (re)insurer has also appointed Mark Butterworth as a professional lines underwriter in Melbourne. Butterworth will report to Rob Barnum, underwriter for professional lines in Australia and Asia-Pacific.
Read the full story here and here.
5. Lockton promotes new head of placement for Asia
Lockton has promoted Piers Hughes (pictured) to the position of head of placement for Asia. Singapore-based Hughes will focus on enhancing facilities, captives, and retro capabilities for clients across the Asia region.
Read the full story here.
6. Lloyd’s elevates head of market development for Asia
Janus Cheung has been appointed as the new head of market development for Asia at Lloyd’s. Singapore-based Cheung has been with Lloyd’s for almost two and a half years, having joined in January 2023 from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty as a market developement manager for Singapore.
Read the full story here.
7. MSIG Singapore names senior vice president, head of corporate distribution
MSIG Singapore has appointed Jerry Pai (pictured) as its new senior vice president and head of corporate distribution. Pai has over 20 years of senior leadership experience in the financial services industry across local and international markets, bringing a wealth of expertise in driving business growth and transformation.
Read the full story here.
8. Gallagher India appoints oil, gas and petrochemical risk specialist
Gallagher India has appointed Venu Matoory as specialist for oil, gas and petrochemical risk. Mumbai-based Matoory will be driving growth in the specialised segment of crude, chemical, and gas tankers, using his on-ground experience as an ex-mariner.
Read the full story here.
9. Apollo-backed Athene Japan hires new corporate development lead
Apollo-backed life reinsurer Athene has hired Munich Re’s head of financial solutions Hugo Choi as senior vice president of corporate development in its Tokyo office. Choi will be responsible for growing Athene’s flow and block reinsurance businesses across Asia Pacific, with support from colleagues at Apollo to capture retirement opportunities in the region.
Read the full story here.
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.
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Mitsui Bussan Pana Harrison, Marsh, Axa XL, Great Eastern, HDI Global, Knightcorp, Ace Insurance Brokers and Howden Re also made personnel changes over the last week.
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Berajaya Sompo, Aon, Chaucer, Coface, Protec General Insurance, AIG, Arch Insurance, Steamship Mutual, Envest and Frontier Global Underwriting also made personnel changes over the last week.
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Envest, Labuan Re, Allianz Commercial, Willis: 14 APAC insurance people moves of the week
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Aon, Marsh, Howden, Lockton, Coface, BMS Group, Miller, Starr, Specialist Risk Group, and TQR also made personnel changes over the last week.
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