Sompo, Samsung Re, Nova, Howden, Everest: 11 APAC insurance people moves of the week

June 27 2025 by

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

1. Sompo names Hong Kong CEO as Li Sheung Kin set to retire

Sompo has appointed Alasdair Walker as Hong Kong CEO, succeeding Li Sheung Kin, who will retire from the position. In his new role, Walker will be responsible for driving Sompo Hong Kong’s profitability and capabilities as a key commercial business hub in Asia Pacific.

He will report to Kenneth Reilly, regional insurance CEO, and deputy CEO, commercial insurance at Sompo Japan. The appointment is subject to local regulatory and immigration approvals.

Read the full story here.

2. Samsung Re names head of cyber and casualty

Samsung Re, the reinsurance arm of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance (SFMI), has appointed Sie Liang Lau as head underwriter for cyber and casualty, effective immediately. Lau will lead the buildout of Samsung Re’s cyber and casualty portfolios across Asia Pacific, as well as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), while also supporting the broader global cyber insurance ambitions of SFMI.

Read the full story here.

3. Hong Kong’s Nova announces senior leadership changes

Hong Kong broker Nova Insurance Group has appointed Rebecca Au (pictured) as its new managing director, succeeding Patrick Chan, who will retire on July 1 after over 21 years of leading the business.

Au, who is currently deputy managing director, will be the responsible officer taking overall responsibility for Nova. She will be supported by Conrad Wong and Joseph Lee, who have been named as chief commercial officers.

Read the full story here.

4. Howden snaps up ex-BMS duo to launch Japan M&A practice

Howden has appointed Tim Hewitt and Kaori Iwai to lead its newly established M&A practice in Japan. Hewitt takes on the role of head of M&A, with Iwai appointed as manager.

Read the full story here.

5. Everest Insurance launches Korea desk, names lead

Everest Insurance has launched its new South Korea desk, led by Brian Jee. Singapore-based Jee, who joined Everest two years ago as senior underwriter, will be appointed as head of Korea and senior financial lines underwriter.

Read the full story here.

6. Price Forbes appoints Asia property chief

Price Forbes has appointed Suvimol Sathanart (pictured) as head of property, Asia, effective immediately. She will be based in Singapore and report to chief broking officer Julian Coates.

Read the full story here.

7. Aon bolsters natural resources team with director hire

Aon has appointed Jocelyn Liu as its director for national resources in Asia. Singapore-based Liu joins from Starr, where she has spent over 17 years in the role of a regional senior underwriter.

Read the full story here.

8. Marsh ANZ promotes Pacific head of transactional risk

Sydney-based Thomas joined Marsh in February as senior transaction risk adviser.

Read the full story here.

9. Allianz Australia names chief claims officer

Allianz Australia has appointed Luke Whenman as its new chief claims officer. Sydney-based Whenman brings a wealth of insurance experience, with 11 years at Suncorp prior to joining Allianz, and “an impressive history of leading teams to deliver innovative solutions that enhance the claims experience for customers, partners, and brokers,” said chief customer and operations officer Brendan Dunne.

Read the full story here.

10. Markel continues APAC build out with casualty underwriter in Singapore

Markel has established its first dedicated casualty underwriting position in Singapore with the appointment of Collin Sim (pictured). Sim will be responsible for developing Markel’s casualty presence in Southeast Asia and the broader Asian market.

Read the full story here.

11. Miller hires head of Indonesia desk

Specialist (re)insurance broker Miller has appointed Martin Dimas as head of its Indonesia desk, based in Singapore. Dimas will lead the growth of Miller’s Indonesian reinsurance business across all lines, working closely with product line experts, the statement said.

Read the full story here.

Other moves you may have missed

Specialist (re)insurance broker BMS Australia has appointed Georgina Reilly as general counsel, while Australian MGA Agile has appointed Sharna Stallard as a financial lines underwriter. 

Reinsurance broker UIB Asia has appointed Markus Sayuti as executive director of its treaty and retrocession division, effective from July 1, while Willis has appointed Arushi Arora as its new head of claims for financial and executive risks (finex) in India.

QBE, meanwhile, has appointed Jo Hatcher as managing director for consumer in Australia Pacific, and promoted Patricia Priest to the role of chief underwriting and transformation officer for Australia Pacific.

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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