ICIEC names new CEO
The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), has appointed Mr Oussama Kaissi as its new CEO.
He replaces Mr Hani Salem Sonbol, who was named acting CEO in October last year after his predecessor Mr Abdel Rahman El-Tayeb Taha had retired.
Mr Kaissi has over 28 years of experience in the insurance and takaful industry, of which 16 years were at the senior executive level. Just prior to joining ICIEC, he was CEO of the National Takaful Company (Watania) in the UAE. He also established and led Abu Dhabi National Takaful till 2010. Previously, he was the General Manager of Arig in Bahrain and Managing Director of Arab Lebanese Insurance Group in Lebanon.
Willis appoints Natural Resources Industry Leader for CEEMEA Region
Willis Group Holdings has appointed Mr Julian Vero as Regional Leader of Natural Resources in the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region.
Mr Vero will drive growth in the region by bringing Willis’ global expertise and analytical tools to clients and prospects in the natural resources sector. His current role focuses on energy liability in the global natural resources team in London. He has started the transition into his new role and will take it up fully on 1 January 2016.
He joined Willis in November 2013, having previously worked for JLT, Guest Krieger and Marsh.
New CEO at Aon Risk Solutions EMEA
Aon has named Mr John Cullen, previously CFO of its global Risk Solutions segment, as CEO of Aon Risk Solutions EMEA. He took over the role from Mr Rob Brown effectively on 5 October.
Mr Cullen has served as CFO of Aon’s global Risk Solutions business and Chairman of the Aon Risk Solutions Pacific region since 2014. He has held a number of senior executive positions at Aon in almost 20 years with the firm, including CFO of Asia operations and COO of the UK Risk Solutions business.
Prior to joining Aon, Mr Cullen worked at PwC where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was a specialist in insurance and banking services in London and Hong Kong.
Cigna appoints new head for MENA operations
Cigna has appointed Mr Howard Gough as CEO of the MENA region. He comes to the region after managing the Middle East and Asia Pacific region for Cigna Global Health Benefits® based out of Shanghai, and is currently also the global CEO for Cigna’s Global Individual Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) business.
In his new role, based out of Dubai, Mr Gough will be responsible for expanding Cigna’s global healthcare business and Cigna’s individual business to the MENA region. He will also continue to build the profile of the company in the GCC, where Cigna has an alliance with Saudi Arabian Insurance Company (DAMANA), covering countries like the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia through DAMANA’s sister company Saudi Arabian Cooperative Insurance Company.
MENA: Lockton appoints CEO for retail business
Lockton has appointed Mr Alan Corney as regional retail CEO, responsible for developing Lockton’s rapidly expanding retail business in the MENA region.
Based in the UAE, Mr Corney joins from Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company Mubadala, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of Group Insurance.
Trust Re creates regional role
Trust Re has appointed Mr Khaled Nouiri as Head of Regional Operations, effective 1 October. In this newly created organisational role, he will lead and manage the development and operational strategy of Trust Re’s Regional Centres and associated business units.
Ensuring proximity to customers, enhancing human capital, providing structured services, developing Trust Re’s brand and market position were amongst the key drivers behind the company’s decision to create this role.
Mr Nouiri has more than 18 years of non-life reinsurance experience. He enjoys in-depth knowledge of the reinsurance business, both treaty and facultative, within the Afro-Asian region. He joined Trust Re as a Senior Treaty Underwriter in 2010 and led the treaty underwriting team handling the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent regions before his current appointment.
Oman United Insurance names CEO
Oman United Insurance Company has appointed Mr R Muthukumar, who was acting CEO of the company, to the position of CEO.
Mr Muthukumar has been with Oman United Insurance for the last 24 years and had been employed in various positions, capacities and responsibilities at the company.
UAE: ADGM makes senior appointments
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, has appointed Mr Thomas Hirschi as Executive Director of Banking and Insurance and Mr Philippe Richard as the Director of International Affairs under the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
Mr Hirschi will oversee the admission, authorisation and supervision of a broad-range of banking and insurance firms and related services at ADGM. He will also spearhead and formulate the tools and techniques for a risk-based approach in supervising banking and insurance firms. In his new role, he will also advocate and align FSRA’s banking and insurance regulatory framework and standards with global best practices.
Prior to joining ADGM’s FSRA, Mr Hirschi held several senior positions with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) since 2004. From 2014, he was the Head of Risk Management (Department of Banks), he was also responsible for the continued implementation of Basel III in Switzerland. Prior to that, he was the Head of Supervision of retail and commercial banks (2011-2013), as well as the Key Account Manager for a large Swiss Bank (2009-2010). Prior to joining FINMA, he was part of the Business Risk Management team at J.P. Morgan Chase in Geneva.
Mr Richard will head ADGM’s regulatory-related international activities and collaboration with key international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Financial Stability Board, the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee of Banking Supervision, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions, as well as cooperation with national regulators. He will support the FSRA in maintaining active communication and contributions to discussions on fostering global financial stability and shaping international financial regulatory reforms.
Mr Richard was previously the Director of the International Affairs Department at the French Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) overseeing all matters related to prudential and accounting regulations in the banking and insurance sectors. He was a member of the Advisory Board of the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority between 2008 and 2009. From 2001 to 2008, he was the Secretary General of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
UAE: New CFO for Daman
National Health Insurance Company – Daman has announced the appointment of Mr Yousif Najem Al Khanjari as Chief Financial Officer.
Mr Al Khanjari has 20 years of experience in the areas of accounting, human resources, management, strategy and planning. He has held appointments in the oil & gas sector, education, and insurance sectors. He joined Daman in 2013 as the Director of Finance and Controlling.
As CFO, Mr Al Khanjari will oversee the company’s financial affairs, legal affairs, health insurance underwriting and procurement activities. He will also represent Daman in areas of his responsibility in the presence of senior stakeholders and government regulators, both on a local and federal level.
Mr Al Khanjari will play a pivotal role in the electronic transition of process for payments to providers and managing suppliers, ensuring an overall efficient and effective flow of processes that ultimately benefits stakeholders.