Starr, Descartes, Aon, Everest: 11 APAC insurance people moves of the week
August 1 2025 by Andrew Mullen
InsuranceAsia News wraps up the people moves from the insurance industry in Asia this week.
1. Starr Insurance elevates new APAC president and COO
Starr Insurance has chosen a new president of Asia Pacific following Phil Finley’s decision to retire in early 2026 after 23 years at the company.
Starr Insurance said that it has appointed Sean Chen as president of its APAC operations, effective from Friday. He will report to APAC and LATAM president Jose Ribeiro.
Starr Insurance also announced that Derek Narvacan, its country head for the Philippines, has been promoted to chief operating officer for APAC.
Read the full story here.
2. Descartes elevates Ben Qin as APAC head
Parametric specialist Descartes has appointed Ben Qin head of Asia Pacific in regional leadership changes at the MGA, which will also see WeeBeng Seow appointed acting head of Southeast Asia. Sydney-based Qin has been overseeing Descartes’ operations in North Asia and Australia. With nearly two decades of experience across the region, Qin will now drive regional strategy, cross-market collaboration and tailored risk solutions across APAC.
Seow joined Descartes Singapore office three years ago as business development director and has leveraged his extensive broker network and broker experience to further expanding the MGA’s value proposition with broker partners throughout Southeast Asia and with the rest of Descartes APAC team across the whole region, the company said.
Read the full story here.
3. Aon names APAC reinsurance CEO
As part of a continuing reinsurance leadership rejig, Aon has appointed Rupert Moore (pictured) as CEO of reinsurance across the Asia Pacific and chairman of the region for its strategy and technology group (STG). Moore (pictured) has been the UK CEO for reinsurance for the past three years and will relocate to Singapore later this year and serve as an adviser to APAC CEO Jennifer Richards to help advance the firm’s risk capital strategy for Japan.
Read the full story here.
4. Catherine Soyka joins Everest’s Singapore reinsurance team
Catherine Soyka has joined Everest’s reinsurance team in Singapore as an assistant vice president for reinsurance underwriting for Oceania. Soyka joins Everest having spent the last six years with Chaucer Group in Singapore, most recently as a class underwriter for property treaty.
Read the full story here.
5. Swiss crypto carrier 1B taps Aon executive for CEO role
John Morley, who was APAC chief executive for Aon’s strategy and technology group (STG), has been appointed CEO of Switzerland-based crypto-focused insurance startup 1B Insurance. Morley will be responsible for the strategic expansion and European market leadership of 1B Insurance, which is Europe’s first blockchain insurance company.
Read the full story here.
6. Jarrod Tilbrook joins Marsh ANZ as managing principal
Marsh Australia and New Zealand has appointed Jarrod Tilbrook (pictured) as its new managing principal. Sydney-based Tillbrook has joined Marsh from Australian insurance broker Coverforce, where he was head of broking for New South Wales for just less than a year.
Read the full story here.
7. Chubb promotes new A&H head for ANZ
Chubb has promoted Brian Hogan to head of accident and health (A&H) for Australia and New Zealand. Singapore-based Hogan has nearly 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, including over 14 years with Chubb across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
Read the full story here.
8. BMS boosts Australian financial lines, cyber teams with dual promotions
Specialist broker BMS Australia has promoted Callum McMillan to national head of directors and officers liability and Pranav Jani to national head of cyber. Brisbane-based McMilan and Jani both joined the firm following its acquisition of Bluebook in July 2023. McMillan, who has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, has been the firm’s divisional leader of financial lines since November 2023. Jani, meanwhile, was most recently account manager for financial lines.
Read the full story here.
9. Tysers appoints associate director for P&C in Singapore
Lloyd’s broker Tysers has appointed Desmond Cheok (pictured) as associate director for P&C in Singapore. Reporting to Tim Stokes, senior managing director for P&C, Cheok will drive the development of Tysers’ casualty business across APAC, strengthening its client offering and expanding its presence in the region.
Read the full story here.
10. AIG appoints head of commercial property and business pack for Australia
AIG Australia has hired Adrian Walker as head of its commercial property and business package, according to a LinkedIn post by Jules Sperring, head of commercial property and business pack for Asia Pacific. Sydney-based Walker joins from Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, where he led large commercial property underwriting for APAC.
Read the full story here.
11. Allianz Commercial Japan hires representative director and president
Allianz Fire and Marine Insurance Japan (Allianz Commercial Japan) has appointed Brian Jinzenji as representative director and president, effective from August 1. Jinzenji will seek to lead the business in its next phase of profitable growth amidst exciting developments in the Japanese commercial insurance market.
Read the full story here.
Other moves you may have missed
Delta Insurance Group has promoted Natasha Plesnik to the role of casualty manager within its New Zealand office, while Munich Re has added Justin Lim as a senior underwriter for its engineering team in Singapore.
Commercial property insurer FM has made two promotions within its Australia and New Zealand client service team, with Melbourne-based Mairead Perkins appointed as vice president and assistant client service manager, and Sydney-based Ben Wyatt appointed as vice president and client service manager.
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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Gallagher Re, Aon, Swiss Re CorSo, Willis, Howden, McLardy McShane, Markel: 12 APAC insurance people moves of the week
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Canopius, Aon Re, Bridge Specialty, and 360 Underwriting also made personnel changes over the last week.
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Aon, Everest, Willis, Howden, Chubb: 8 APAC insurance people moves of the week
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Gallagher, Generali GC&C, Allianz Trade, Crawford, Fusion Specialty, MSIG Asia and WTW Insurance Brokers also made personnel changes over the last week.
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