QBE, Allianz, Optio, Fidelis, Willis Re: 15 APAC insurance people moves of the week
November 6 2026 by Joana Nguyen
InsuranceAsia News wraps up the people moves from the insurance industry in Asia this week.
1. QBE Insurance names new Pacific CEO
QBE Insurance has promoted Leanne Nel to CEO of the Pacific region, replacing Jonathan Groves following his recent elevation to CEO of Australia Pacific.
Nel‘s appointment, following Groves’ promotion in September, is effective from December 3, subject to regulatory approvals, QBE said in a statement.
Read the full story here.
2. Allianz Australia appoints general manager for distribution
Allianz Australia has named Alison Smith as its new general manager for distribution, according to a statement on Tuesday.
Smith, who is based in Melbourne, will join Allianz Australia in January after almost 23 years at Aon in various roles.
Read the full story here.
3. Optio Group hires former Canopius executive to lead APAC push
Specialty MGA Optio Group has chosen Jamie Jeffers to lead its Asia Pacific expansion efforts.
He will be responsible for the expansion of Optio’s speciality offering in the region, building on the existing footprint of Circles Group, which Optio acquired last year.
Read the full story here.
4. The Fidelis Partnership names leader of new Singapore-based Lloyd’s service company
The Fidelis Partnership (TFP) has announced plans to launch a Singapore-based Lloyd’s service company, with the new entity expected to begin underwriting from January 1.
TFP said on Tuesday that the new service company, known as TFP Asia Pacific, would be led by former Volante Global executive Bilal Zafar as CEO.
Read the full story here.
5. Willis Re expands Asia Pacific presence with senior hires from Gallagher Re
Willis Re has added Kevin Chin and Shinick Kim to its team in Singapore as the newly launched reinsurance broker continues to build out its presence in Asia Pacific.
Chin was most recently an executive director of Gallagher Re in Singapore, while Kim was a divisional director at Gallagher Re in South Korea.
Read the full stories here and here.
6. AIG makes dual appointments in New Zealand, Malaysia
AIG has appointed Darrin Madgwick as its head of client and broker engagement in New Zealand while elevating Zhu Wei Lee to head of financial lines in Malaysia.
Auckland-based Madgwick brings more than 30 years of insurance experience across Australia and New Zealand, spanning broking, underwriting, claims, business ownership and executive leadership.
Kuala Lumpur-based Lee, meanwhile, has been with the insurer for three years, having originally joined as a financial lines underwriting manager
Read the full stories here and here.
7. Allianz Commercial Japan taps head of marine
Katsuya Kobayashi has joined Allianz Commercial Japan as its new head of marine.
He brings more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, with deep expertise in marine insurance, global insurance programs, risk management, and multinational client servicing.
Read the full story here.
8. Tokio Marine Kiln names co-heads of APAC property
Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) has promoted two of its Asia Pacific property underwriters to senior leadership roles, with Jaci Eng and Jon Grossman appointed as co-heads of APAC property, according to a statement on Tuesday.
“Having helped build a strong and diverse property portfolio, and earned the trust of brokers, clients and colleagues across the region, they are well placed to lead the business and build on the opportunities ahead in the APAC market,” TMK said.
Read the full story here.
9. Liberty Mutual appoints head of war, terrorism in Singapore
Liberty Mutual has appointed Scott West as its head of war and terrorism in Singapore, according to a LinkedIn update.
West has been working at Liberty for over 10 years, most recently as senior underwriter for war and terrorism at Liberty Specialty Markets.
Read the full story here.
10. Lockton adds veteran Aon marine executive to Asia transportation team
Lockton has hired Evelyn Hoh as a senior vice president and marine claims advocate within its Asia transportation team.
Hoh joined from Aon, where she spent almost 19 years, most recently as head of marine, reinsurance solutions, facultative Asia.
Read the full story here.
11. Chaucer adds duo to Singapore underwriting platform
Chaucer has added two underwriters to its Asia Pacific team in Singapore.
Jay Bae has been appointed as lead underwriter for APAC agriculture, with Jessica Lee joining as class underwriter for reinsurance.
Read the full story here.
12. Chubb announces new hires in Hong Kong, Malaysia
Matthew Pereira has joined Chubb as its North Asia property manager in Hong Kong, following a 15-year stint at AIG in London, Stockholm and Hong Kong.
Chubb Hong Kong has also added Tina Cheung as a senior financial lines underwriter within the major accounts division. Cheung joined the insurer after three years at Markel.
Meanwhile, Man Yin Lai joined as CFO of Chubb’s Malaysian unit. She returned to Malaysia from Hong Kong, where she was a reserving director at Peak Re since September 2024.
Read the full stories here, here and here.
13. Generali names Malaysia CFO
Generali has shifted Francesco Giannuzzi to Kuala Lumpur to become the Italian insurer’s new CFO for Generali Insurance Malaysia.
Giannuzzi has been Generali’s Milan-based head of finance for the Mediterranean and Latin America since January 2023.
Read the full story here.
14. Sompo’s risk control specialist joins BHSI in Singapore
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Weng Kong Chan as a risk engineer in Singapore.
He has joined BHSI after three years at Sompo, where he was a risk control specialist within the Japanese insurer’s APAC property business.
Read the full story here.
15. Lloyd’s Market Association CEO resigns
Sheila Cameron has resigned from her position as chief executive officer of the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA), according to a press release.
Cameron, who has led the organisation since 2019, will continue in her role into early 2027 to ensure an orderly and seamless transition, after which she will take on a new advisory role in the London market.
Read the full story here.
Other moves you may have missed
Aon has hired Vivian Zhang as its Asia Pacific regional director for financial sponsors in Hong Kong. She brings more than a decade of experience across financial services, business development and strategic growth, with deep experience in private equity and the Greater China market, Jane Drummond, chief commercial officer for APAC, said.
Meanwhile, Howden has named Zoe Zhang as its Asia regional director for its digital infrastructure and technology practice in Singapore. She most recently worked at law firm Greenberg Traurig, where she was an associate in Dubai focused on the telecoms, media and technology sector from June 2025 until July.
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.
-
Bajaj General Insurance, Lloyd’s, Orvia, Sompo: 11 APAC insurance people moves of the week
- October 30
WTW, Marsh, Lockton, Starr, Elseco, Echo Re and Chaucer also made personnel changes over the last week.
-
MG Geraghty, Chubb, Helvetia, Tysers, Gallagher: 17 APAC insurance people moves of the week
- October 23
IndusInd General Insurance, Oneglobal, Skuld, Marsh, Markel, Ergo Insurance, Aviso Specialty, Arch Insurance, Dual, Howden, HDI Global and Specialist Risk Group also made personnel changes over the last week.
-
Zurich, Allianz JD, Howden, McLarens: 8 APAC insurance people moves of the week
- October 16
BMS Group, IBISA, Allianz and Generali Central Insurance also made personnel changes over the last week.
-
Bajaj Finserv, Aviso Specialty, Swiss Re CorSo, Everest, Lockton: 13 APAC insurance people moves of the week
- October 9
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.
-
BlackRock | Rethink the rules: how TAA and ETFs are reshaping portfolio construction
BlackRock's Daniel Caderas and MSCI's Raman Aylur Subramanian explain why tactical asset allocation (TAA) and exchange-traded funds (ETF) have become essential as global markets fragment and static allocations lose their reliability.
-
BlackRock | Infrastructure comes of age for insurers
Are insurers capturing full value from the asset class? BlackRock shares its perspective.
-
Beazley | Navigating geopolitical risks at sea
Maritime shipping faces growing geopolitical threats — missiles, drones, GPS interference, and cyber sabotage — requiring better intelligence, crew welfare, and resilience measures.
-
Zurich | Why resilience will define the winners of Asia’s clean energy transition
Planning for future conditions from the outset can improve operational reliability, reduce potential disruption and protect long-term asset value.
