The Syrian Ministry of Finance has announced the appointment of Mr Firas El Azem as Director General of the Syrian Insurance Supervisory Commission (SISC), effective June 2026, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 783.
Mr El Azem has over 35 years of experience in the (re)insurance sector. Prior to his appointment at the SISC, he spent more than three years at Morocco’s Atlantic Reinsurance Company as Senior Advisor and Head of Non-Life Africa (Treaty and Facultative). In 2016, joined Arig Bahrain, where he headed the reinsurance business. Between 2013 and 2015, he served as SEO of Takaful Reinsurance Company in the UAE.
Prior to that, Mr El Azem spent four years as General Manager of Al-Aqeelah Takaful Insurance Company in Syria. He also served General Manager of Syria International Insurance (Arope Syria) between 2006 and 2008.
Mr El Azem started his career with Munich Re in Germany in 1991, where he spent 15 years holding various positions, most recently as CEO/GM of Munich Re – Kuala Lumpur Branch.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr Yisr Barnieh, Syrian Minister of Finance said, “I would like to congratulate Brother Firas Al-Azm on his appointment as Director General of the Syrian Insurance Supervisory Authority, wishing him all success in his new duties, and to contribute his experience to the development of the Authority’s work and enhance its role.
“Mr Al-Azm has extensive international experience, having worked with the world's leading insurance companies in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Arab region.”
Mr El Azem succeeds Mr Kefah Fermalli, who has been relocated as Director at the Central Audit Agency.