Attracting and retaining high-quality insurance talent requires a deliberate and long-term approach in Bahrain because the kingdom's (re)insurance market is "relatively small and specialised", according to Mr Mahmood Waheed, Head of Reinsurance at Patrick York Ireland Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers (Bahrain).
Speaking with Middle East Insurance Review, he emphasised the advantages of “a human-centric organisation, focussed on recruiting self-driven professionals who are motivated by challenge, continuous improvement and long-term career development”.
Commenting on the approach taken by his company, he said, “We have built a multicultural team, which we see as a strategic advantage, as it fosters diversity of thought, knowledge sharing and cultural awareness, ultimately enhancing the quality of advice and service we deliver to our clients.”
Additionally, he said that investment in training and professional development is “central” to their talent strategy, with the brokerage actively partnering with external training providers to reskill and upskill employees in high-demand areas, directly addressing skills shortages within the market.
Keeping abreast of regulatory expectations
At the same time, his company strongly encourages professional accreditation “by sponsoring recognised industry qualifications and certifications, complemented by structured in-house mentoring and technical training programmes”, Mr Waheed said.
He explained, “This ensures that our teams remain technically proficient and aligned with evolving market and regulatory expectations.”
Mr Waheed also said, “We place strong emphasis on continuous learning, meaningful work, exposure to complex assignments and clear progression pathways, alongside a supportive culture that prioritises wellbeing and engagement.”
By aligning these initiatives with broader government-led skills development programmes and market-wide training frameworks, he said the firm can mitigate talent constraints and position itself competitively within Bahrain’s evolving (re)insurance market.
To read the full interview with Mr Mahmood Waheed, please see the article “Bahrain’s brokers pivot towards value-added services”, published in the February 2026 edition of Middle East Insurance Review.