Several insurance organisations in Asia have announced senior moves spanning broking, underwriting, loss adjusting, and board oversight.
Gallagher has named Adam Sullivan CEO of its specialty operations in Asia. The unit works with clients in sectors including energy, marine, heavy industry, mining, property, and financial lines. Sullivan will oversee the regional specialty business and will concentrate on large corporate clients in Asian markets. He will also retain his position as CEO of Gallagher’s aerospace practice across Asia-Pacific and will report to Sarah Lyons, CEO of Specialty at Gallagher. Sullivan has more than 30 years of insurance industry experience. He joined Gallagher in 2019 when the broker acquired JLT Aerospace, where he had worked since 2011. Before that, he held roles at a global broker focused on aviation insurance. He started his career in London and moved to Singapore in 2007.
Lyons said: “By bringing our Singapore team closer aligned with our 1,300 specialty colleagues operating from London, we can maximise the global expertise we have across the division and provide clients with access to additional products and services. Adam has both regional and international experience and is the ideal person to lead Gallagher’s speciality operations into the new phase. He is a great people leader and this internal appointment demonstrates the breadth of talent we have within our team.” Sullivan said coordination between Asian and UK teams would be a priority. “Together with the local team and our counterparts in Gallagher Specialty in the UK, I look forward to driving the continued success of our business through a culture of collaboration and excellence. We are committed to offering our clients best in class risk support and advice, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead our business in Singapore.”
AI12 Ltd., a specialist insurance and reinsurance broker based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has named Edward Sheppard (pictured top, left) chief broking officer as it looks to expand its specialty operations linked to construction and energy, including business connected to Asian markets. The appointment follows AI12’s authorisation in the DIFC and by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). The role is part of the broker’s plan to broaden its specialty portfolio, move beyond its core aviation focus, and extend its property and casualty reinsurance activities.
Sheppard will work with founder and CEO Anvar Mullabekov and chief operating officer Richard Prenter and will oversee the development of AI12’s specialty practice, with a focus on construction, power and infrastructure (CP&I), and wider P&C reinsurance. “Edward’s appointment comes at an important inflection point for AI12. As we evolve from a recognised aviation leader into a boutique specialty broker with a diversified global offering, his technical expertise and market credibility will be instrumental. Edward strengthens our drive and mission to scale our specialty business while maintaining our client-first DNA and delivering long-term value for clients and shareholders,” Mullabekov said.
Sheppard previously spent more than 16 years at Marsh McLennan in the Middle East and Africa, holding leadership positions in client servicing, broking, placement, and power and renewables. His experience includes designing and placing multi-jurisdictional programs in construction, conventional and renewable power, petrochemicals, and other industrial segments. “The strength of a broker is defined by long standing relationships, deep subject matter expertise and innovative solutions. Our ambition is to build the world’s best boutique insurance broker, precise in our messaging, disciplined in our focus, and anchored in a client-first approach. AI12 offers what many large organisations struggle to deliver: direct proximity to decision-makers and tailored solutions delivered with speed and clarity. My priority is to build a strong specialty brand, expand CP&I capabilities, and bring clients closer to the people structuring and placing their risk,” Sheppard said. Prenter said the company views Sheppard’s background in complex portfolios as aligned with AI12’s current expansion plans.
Liberty Specialty Markets, part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has appointed Edrick Tang (pictured top, right) as senior underwriter, fine art and specie, Asia-Pacific. Tang is based in Singapore and reports to Dipam Pandit, head of broker distribution, Asia, and head of war and terrorism, Asia-Pacific. Liberty has identified fine art and specie as a key business segment in Asia, where demand from brokers and insureds has been rising. The firm now operates nine dedicated fine art and specie offices globally and employs close to 40 underwriters focused on this line.
The product suite serves a wide spectrum of buyers, from small and medium-sized enterprises to high-net-worth clients and larger corporates. Cover includes fine art, general specie, cash in transit, and jewellers block, allowing the carrier to write varied risks within these subclasses. Liberty also participates on larger commercial accounts and reinsurance treaties for cedants, with the ability to structure different program designs according to risk profile and distribution needs.
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In his new position, Tang will be responsible for underwriting performance in the fine art and specie portfolio and for carrying out the growth plan for the class across Asia. The role includes responding to demand for specialist coverage associated with art, secure logistics, and other high-value movable assets in regional hubs. Pandit said: “We are thrilled to welcome Edrick to his new role and look forward to the opportunities his extensive experience and expertise will bring to this business. Under his leadership, we are confident the fine art and specie team will continue to grow and offer vital products and coverage to our clients in Asia.” Tang has 15 years of experience at major insurers, most recently as an underwriting manager.
Claims services and loss adjusting firm Charles Taylor has added to its specialist adjusting team in Asia by appointing Viknesh Sheekar as a director in its Asia regional hub. The firm said the hire responds to more complex claims trends in the region across several lines of business. According to Charles Taylor, clients in aviation, marine, property, and special risks are seeking greater clarity on risk exposures amid climate variability, changes linked to the energy transition, and large infrastructure projects.
Viknesh has more than a decade of experience managing major energy, property, and construction losses in Asian markets. In his new role, he will work with regional teams and clients on assignments across natural resources, construction and engineering, machinery breakdown, public and product liability, product recall, fine art and specie, and marine risks. He reports to Mathew Hessian, Singapore country manager and client and business development director, Asia. “Asia is increasingly seeing claims shaped by climate volatility, complex construction and energy projects, and high-value assets that cut across multiple risk categories. Joining Charles Taylor at this time will enable me to help our clients navigate these challenges by bringing together the right expertise and supporting better outcomes in an increasingly complex claims environment,” Sheekar said. Hessian said Asia remains a focus for the firm’s regional business plans and that Charles Taylor intends to continue recruiting specialist loss adjusting expertise as claims become more technically demanding. He said Viknesh’s appointment adds to the firm’s capability in handling complex and high-severity losses in the region.
China Life Insurance Company Limited has reported the resignation of non-executive director Wang Junhui and related changes to its specialized board committees. The board said Wang resigned as a non-executive director and as a member of the nomination and remuneration committee on Jan. 22, with effect from the same date. After stepping down from these roles, he will remain chairman of the board of directors of China Life Pension Company Limited, a subsidiary of China Life.
In its announcement, the company said Wang confirmed he has no disagreement with the board and that there are no matters connected with his resignation that need to be brought to shareholders’ attention. The board expressed its thanks for his service during his tenure. To maintain the functioning of specialised committees and adjust oversight responsibilities, China Life has updated its committee memberships with effect from Jan. 23. Hu Jin has been re-designated to the nomination and remuneration committee and will no longer serve on the risk management and consumer rights protection committee. In addition, Lu Feng has been appointed to the audit committee.
