January is almost over, we are racing towards spring. Maybe. Meanwhile, here are the latest insurance sector senior appointments for you;
CHARLES TAYLOR
Charles Taylor, the global leader in international loss adjusting and technical claims management, has strengthened its specialist loss adjusting capabilities across Asia in response to the growing complexity of the region’s claims market.
As part of continued investment in its global team, Viknesh Shakeer joins Charles Taylor as a Director in its Asia Regional Hub to provide deep technical expertise and interdisciplinary insight. The move comes as Charles Taylor’s clients across the aviation, marine, property and special risk markets are increasingly seeking greater clarity of risk exposures amid climate volatility, energy transition and major infrastructure expansion projects.
LIBERTY SPECIALTY MARKETS
Liberty Specialty Markets (Liberty), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Edrick Tang as senior underwriter, Asia Pacific, effective immediately. Based in Singapore, Tang will report to Dipam Pandit, head of broker distribution, Asia, and head of war and terrorism, Asia Pacific.
Fine art and specie is a key area of growth for Liberty, particularly in the Asian market, which is developing rapidly. There is a notable increased appetite from brokers and assureds, which Liberty is responding to by establishing a footprint in the region. This appointment brings the total of dedicated fine art & specie underwriters close to 40, with nine global fine art and specie offices.
Tang will oversee underwriting performance for the product line and lead the execution of the product’s growth strategy across Asia, supporting Liberty’s strategic focus on capitalising on regional growth opportunities, while responding to rising client demand for specialised coverage.
PRICE FORBES
Price Forbes Re announces that Alexander Ehrlich has been appointed to the role of Senior Vice President, Life & Health reinsurance. He will report directly to Isaac Sanday, Global Head of Life & Health. Price Forbes also announces the appointment of Younkyung Cho to the role of Vice President, Business Development Actuary, also reporting to Isaac Sanday.
The appointments continue the buildout of the Price Forbes Re Life & Health (L&H) team following the addition of Isaac Sanday and Sanjay Shah last year. In their new roles, Ehrlich and Cho will partner with the growing L&H division to further strengthen our capabilities in the bulk purchase annuity/pension risk transfer market, as well as enhance our reinsurance advisory and end-to-end reinsurance transaction structuring knowledge.
Alexander, a fellow of the institute and faculty of actuaries, brings more than 20 years of experience with him to the role. He joins from Aviva where he was Bulk Purchase Annuity (BPA) reinsurance and structuring execution lead. He has also spent time at Aquila Heywood and PwC.
Younkyung has 19 years of experience and joins from Swiss Re, where she spent 11 years and held a variety of roles including senior risk actuary, regional partner EMEA, senior global pricing actuary, and most recently longevity pricing actuary. Her earlier career includes roles at Groupama and SCOR.
ARGENTA
Argenta is pleased to announce two key appointments, further strengthening the company’s leadership team. Alexandra Hayes joined Argenta at the start of January 2026, and Sweta Tzimopoulos will join later in 2026, with her start date to be confirmed.
Alexandra Hayes joins Argenta as Head of Group Strategy & Execution and Chief of Staff, reporting directly to Nick Moore, Chief Executive Officer. Alex will play a pivotal role in delivering Argenta Group’s priorities, working closely with the Senior Management Group (SMG) to ensure effective execution of the company’s strategic objectives.
Sweta Tzimopoulos has been appointed Chief Distribution Officer, also reporting directly to Nick Moore, Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Sweta will lead the Argenta’s distribution strategy, focusing on building deeper relationships with broker partners and identifying new channels to support growth.
WILLIS
Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW), has announced new appointments to its Financial, Professional and Executive Risks (FINEX) business in the Pacific to support the growth of its specialty businesses in the region:
Eden succeeds Jill Stewart following her retirement from Willis. Eden brings more than 20 years of experience in financial lines and specialty-focused roles. His knowledge of specialised insurance products and global relationships will drive and support Willis to continue to deliver best-in-class solutions and outcomes to protect clients’ reputation from ever-evolving financial, executive, and professional liability risks.
To further bolster segmentation and specialty capabilities, Stephen joins Willis and will be responsible for growth strategies across the Pacific business, with a focus on FINEX. Prior to joining Willis, he was the Chief Commercial Officer for an international broker in Australia where his leadership was characterised by innovative growth strategies and an unwavering commitment to client advocacy. In other previous positions with the company, he was responsible for growth strategies across Specialties, Financial Specialities and Global Risk Consulting and People Risk.
ALLIANZ PARTNERS
Allianz Partners, a world leader in insurance and assistance services, has announced four senior appointments across its Health line of business, with the strategic goal of driving growth across key global markets.
Giovanni di Meo has been appointed Head of Commercial, Health & Benefits, where he will lead the Employee Benefits, Corporate IPMI and Governmental sales segments globally. In this role, Giovanni will be responsible for shaping and executing the global sales strategy and driving trading performance across all markets, while building strong, long-lasting distribution relationships with brokers.
Giovanni brings 15 years of international experience in Life and Health insurance across Europe and Asia, with specialist expertise in business development and broker management. He joined Allianz from Generali in January 2020 as Regional Director Asia Pacific for Allianz Global Benefits, and from 2023 to 2025 served as Head of Sales Performance and Steering for Health and Benefits.
Liam Hughes has been appointed Head of Sales Europe, Health & Benefits. In his role, Liam will oversee the European sales team to support Allianz Partner’s growth, retention, and market expansion in Europe across all segments.
Liam joins Allianz Partners from Cigna International, where he was Chief Commercial Officer, and brings with him over 30 years of experience in international B2B relationships. He has extensive experience building and managing high-performing, global teams, including recruiting and developing talent.
Carl Downham has been appointed Head of Sales Middle East & Africa (MEA), Health & Benefits, where he will lead the development and execution of sales strategies, fostering key partnerships and expanding market presence in the MEA region.
Carl has held several roles during his 15 years with Allianz Partners, including at the Assistance line of business where he led new business development with airlines across the MEA region before moving to Health, where he spearheaded customer relationship management initiatives. He brings strong expertise in developing partnerships across the MEA region, with a deep understanding of market dynamics and a proven ability to support key broker relationships.
Elke De Cauwer is the new Head of Sales Steering, Transformation and Performance, where she will lead a global team to drive strategic planning and performance management across Allianz Partners’ Health line of business. Her responsibilities include overseeing sales support, implementing best-in-class processes and tools, managing reporting frameworks, and spearheading transformation programs.
COGENT
Cogent Hire has announced the appointment of Pete Griffiths and Abi McSorley to support business growth and further strengthen partner relationships.
Pete Griffiths joins Cogent Hire to lead the business’s recoveries function. Pete brings deep sector expertise built over a 25-year career spanning accident investigation and claims-related roles across the market. Most recently he spent two years at Direct Line Group, preceded by nine years at Hastings Direct and two and a half years at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Abi McSorley has been appointed Business Relationship Manager, working alongside the commercial leadership team to support and develop Cogent Hire’s partner relationships and identify new opportunities. Abi reports into Business Development Director Darren Entwistle and will focus on supporting Cogent Hire’s core partner audience.
Abi joins from Bridgetech, where she spent two and a half years providing technology supporting credit hire claims, and previously spent 13 years at Keoghs. She has worked across the credit hire landscape from claims handling through to technology and operational support.
TARGA TELEMATICS
Targa Telematics, one of the world’s leading players in AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) for the development of digital solutions and platforms for connected mobility, today announces the appointment of Adam Gooch as Director of Insurance in the UK.
With over twenty years of experience across the insurance ecosystem, spanning telematics and InsurTech providers, legal services and major insurers, Adam will be responsible with overseeing Targa Telematics’ InsurTech offering and expanding its footprint in the UK as the sector continues to scale up.
CANOPIUS
Canopius, a leading international specialty and P&C (re)insurer, has announced it has appointed Victoria Baxter as Head of Property Treaty in London effective immediately.
Vicky has been appointed to the role to spearhead Canopius’ Property Treaty business in London in lockstep with its teams in Bermuda and the APAC region.
She became Head of US Property Treaty for Canopius in 2022 following three years as a Reinsurance underwriter in the team. Vicky joined Canopius when the business acquired AmTrust in 2019 and brings more than two decades of experience of underwriting in the London Market.
SMARSH
Smarsh has announced new additions to its executive leadership team to accelerate the delivery of AI-powered risk management and data intelligence solutions.
Product and Technology Leadership to Accelerate AI Innovation
Kamesh Tumsi has joined Smarsh as Chief Product Officer, bringing a deep pedigree in scaling highly regulated fintech platforms. Most recently, Tumsi served as Senior Vice President and Head of Product at HealthEquity.
Goutam Nadella, formerly Chief Product Officer, transitions to the role of Chief Strategy Officer. Having spent the last four years architecting the Smarsh platform vision–Nadella will now focus on driving long-term market expansion and strategic partnerships as Smarsh scales its global footprint.
Following a successful interim period, Ian Goodkind was formally appointed Chief Financial Officer. Goodkind has brought financial rigor, operational clarity, and steady leadership to Smarsh, earning the confidence of the Board and investors. He will continue to guide Smarsh’s financial strategy to support sustained growth and customer investment.
GRI
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has appointed Susanne Stormer as the Chair of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), the governance body responsible for setting the GRI Standards.
Susanne is Leader in Residence at Copenhagen Business School, and brings a diverse professional background and extensive reporting experience. She was most recently a Partner at PwC Denmark, providing sustainability advisory and assurance services, prior to which she was Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Novo Nordisk for 13 years.
Susanne has served on the EFRAG Project Task Force that developed the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), as a SASB Standards Board Member, and as a founding member of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC).
BFINANCE
bfinance, the independent investment consultancy, announces the appointment of Ravi Rastogi in a newly created senior leadership role: Managing Director and Global Head of Insurance. The shift underscores the increasing strategic importance of the insurance practice Globally, which has represented a key growth driver for the firm in recent years.
An industry veteran, Rastogi brings more than thirty years of experience in financial services, with almost twenty years in the specialist insurance investment field. His previous insurance investment leadership positions include regional roles at Mercer (2015-18) and (Willis) Towers Watson (2010-2015) and EY (2021-2024). In 2018 he founded Ark Advisors, an insurance-investment focused specialist consultancy. Prior to his appointment as Global Head of Insurance at bfinance, he had been working closely with the firm for several months in an advisory capacity.
MNK GROUP
Daniel Ferguson has been appointed Group Treasury Director at MNK Group to establish the Group’s treasury function. The newly created role further strengthens the Group’s financial planning capability with a view to continued growth and expansion in 2026.
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