Marsh, Zurich, Allianz Trade, Gard, Zurich Kotak: 11 APAC insurance people moves of the week
June 20 2025 by Andrew Mullen
InsuranceAsia News wraps up the people moves from the insurance industry in Asia this week.
1. Marsh Japan hires WTW veteran amid exodus, talent battle
Broking giant Marsh Japan has hired WTW veteran Hirofumi “Luke” Nakamura as a senior vice president, InsuranceAsia News understands. Tokyo-based Nakamura most recently spent 13 years at WTW as a general manager, but has joined Marsh along with several other colleagues, according to two independent sources.
Shinji Yoshihara has been appointed as vice president for sales, having spent the last four years at WTW, most recently as a manager. Former WTW associate director Shoichi Hamashima, meanwhile, has been appointed as Marsh Japan vice president.
Marsh Japan has also appointed Shohei Iida as vice president for private equity and M&A services. Tokyo-based Iida was previously a financial lines underwriter at Allianz Commercial from January 2022 until June.
Read the full stories here and here.
2. Zurich names senior property underwriter in Japan
Zurich has appointed Koji Okumura as a senior property underwriter, based in Japan, a spokesperson for the insurer confirmed to InsuranceAsia News. Okumura will report to head of property, Christy Yeo. Okumura previously worked at Munich Re as an underwriter for almost 10 years, travelling between Japan and Hong Kong.
Read the full story here.
3. Allianz Trade promotes new Asia Pacific CFO
Allianz Trade has elevated Helene Payen (pictured) to Asia Pacific CFO, effective from July 1. Payen, who joined the trade credit carrier in 2013, will succeed Benoit Semelin, who will become CFO for northern Europe. Currently CFO for Allianz Trade’s Spain-based joint venture Solunion, Payen will relocate to Singapore.
Read the full story here.
4. Gard appoints Asia business unit head amid major global restructuring
P&I club Gard has appointed André Kroneberg to lead its Asia business unit within its global strategic restructuring, effective from September 1. Hong Kong-based Kroneberg has been executive vice president and chief underwriting officer for the club since 2022. He was also managing director for Gard’s offices in London and Hong Kong.
Read the full story here.
5. Zurich Kotak brings in 2 new faces for commercial insurance team
Zurich Kotak General Insurance has boosted its commercial insurance team with Ranjit Bhargava appointed as head of distribution and Sumit Gupta named as executive vice president of distribution. Mumbai-based Bhargava spent the last 14 years with Reliance General Insurance across various cities and states, most recently as business head of corporate sales. Mumbai-based Gupta, meanwhile, was most recently a vice president at Swiss Re for 18 months.
Read the full story here.
6. AIG taps marine lead in Hong Kong, Macau
AIG has appointed Liberty Specialty Markets’ Snowy Chan as its marine lead in Hong Kong and Macau. Chan joins AIG, having spent almost 16 and a half years with Liberty, first as an assistant marine underwriter and most recently as an underwriter.
Read the full story here.
7. WTW promotes New Zealand construction manager
WTW has promoted Catherine Tait to the role of national manager for construction in New Zealand. Tait will lead WTW’s New Zealand construction business, and “will be instrumental in advancing our client strategy and market presence”.
Read the full story here.
8. Markel International appoints APAC operations manager
Specialty (re)insurer Markel International has appointed Muhammad Saber as operations manager for Asia Pacific. Singapore-based Saber joins from Liberty Specialty Markets where he was most recently operations team lead, a role he held for almost four years. He first joined the specialty carrier in 2017 as a credit officer and was promoted to underwriting assistant one year later.
Read the full story here.
9. Axa XL ships in QBE duo to boost Australia marine team
Axa XL has appointed Ross Lawrenson as a senior marine underwriter and Sameen Naveed as a senior marine claims specialist. Melbourne-based Lawrenson joined in May after taking a six-month career break following over eight and a half years at QBE, most recently as head of underwriting for marine with QBE Marine Specialty Risks. Naveed, meanwhile, also joined from QBE in May, having spent almost three years as a senior marine claims specialist.
Read the full story here.
10. Crawford Australia names key account manager
Global loss adjuster Crawford has appointed Mark Bossio as a key account manager in Australia. Melbourne-based Bossio joins from Ethos Building and Restoration, having spent just over a year as a client relationship manager.
Read the full story here.
11. Everest promotes head of new business initiatives
Everest Reinsurance’s Himanshu Garg has been promoted to the role of head of new business initiatives. Singapore-based Garg, who will retain his role as head of India, will lead the development and implementation of the high-growth reinsurance initiatives across APAC, according to Bogardus.
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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