Willis Towers Watson announces new CEEMA leader
Willis Towers Watson has appointed Mr Simon Gilliat as the leader of the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) region, leading more than 2,000 colleagues based in more than 40 countries across the region. He takes up the role with immediate effect and is based in London.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Gilliat, a qualified actuary, was both Global Head of the International Consulting Group at Willis Towers Watson, and Managing Director for Rapidly Developing Economies in EMEA.
He joined Watson Wyatt in 1987 and has held a number of leadership roles with Towers Watson. He has a wealth of experience working across CEEMEA and was Managing Director of the CEEMEA region for over four years. He has lived and worked in both Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Oman: Al Madina Insurance appoints Acting CEO and COO
Al Madina Insurance has appointed Mr Usama Al Barwani as Acting CEO and Mr Ajay Srivastava as the new COO.
The changes were made as Mr Gautam Datta takes on the role of associate company National Takaful Company – Watania in Abu Dhabi after serving as CEO of Al Madina for six years.
Mr Al Barwani, formerly Deputy CEO of Al Madina, is a Certified Islamic Specialist in Islamic Insurance and a Certified Compliance Officer. He has over 22 years of experience in HR and Administration. He was one of the key executives involved in meetings with specialists in Shariah consulting services in the company’s 2014 transformation from a conventional insurer to a takaful operator. He has been instrumental in steering the company ahead as Oman’s first takaful provider and has been an integral part of its innovative offerings.
Mr Srivastava has been with Al Madina for seven years, and served as the General Manager, Commercial. His new appointment is aimed at strengthening the technical operations of the company and boosts efforts to provide a higher level of customer service. He has over 27 years of insurance experience in the Indian and London insurance markets. He has been responsible for introducing innovative products and developing the Al Madina’s range of products.
Saudi Arabia: SABB Takaful names new CEO
SABB Takaful has appointed Mr Steven Cosgrove as the new CEO, taking over from Mr Adrian Flowers who will step down in May after holding the post for five years.
Under Mr Flowers, the company successfully redefined its growth strategy and substantially improved its financial results, shareholder value and performance throughout all service segments, the company said in a statement.
Mr Cosgrove has over 30 years’ experience in the insurance market, with a focus on general insurance, including long tail and bancassurance. He has spent the last seven years with HSBC Insurance, based in Hong Kong. His current global role is Head of Retail Insurance Product Development.
Prior to Hong Kong, Mr Cosgrove lived in New Zealand. During this period, his roles included underwriting liability lines, building and operating a workers compensation company, and managing the commercial lines national branch network. The latter role was for QBE.
Saudi Arabia: Arabian Shield appoints CEO
Arabian Shield Cooperative Insurance has promoted Mr Basem Kamel Odeh to CEO effective 1 January 2016. He was previously General Manager of Arabian Shield since 2007.
Mr Odeh has over 26 years of insurance experience, having joined the industry in Saudi Arabia in 1990. He has served as Chairman of the Insurance Executive Committee and Chairman of the Legal and Regulatory sub-committee since 2013. He also chairs the Executive committee and is a Board member of Najm Co for Insurance Services.
Previously, Mr Odeh was a member of the National Insurance Committee and President of Riyadh Insurance Institute.