HDI Global, KoverNow, and Policybazaar for Business have announced a series of senior appointments in Japan, Singapore, and India.
HDI Global has appointed Hiro Yamasaki (pictured) as managing director and legal representative of its Japan branch, where he will oversee the corporate and specialty portfolio in the market. Yamasaki has more than 25 years of experience in commercial property and casualty insurance, including underwriting, portfolio management, and international leadership roles in Japan and the US. Over his career, he has led large underwriting initiatives and worked on group-wide natural catastrophe risk, including exposure management. Immediately before taking up the new role, Yamasaki worked in a global corporate underwriting function, focusing on underwriting processes, natural catastrophe exposure, and the use of artificial intelligence tools in underwriting activities.
David Hullin, member of the HDI Global executive board, commented: “Japan is a key market for HDI Global, and strengthening our leadership team is an important step in our growth strategy. Hiro brings deep technical expertise and international experience that perfectly complement our disciplined underwriting approach. His appointment underlines our commitment to sustainable, profitable growth and to being the partner in transformation for clients and brokers in Japan.” Yamasaki said he plans to focus on underwriting discipline and collaboration with market participants. “I am honoured to join HDI Global and excited to work with our talented Japan team. My focus will be on disciplined and sustainable growth, built on underwriting excellence, clear communication, and strong partnerships with our brokers and clients. HDI has strong momentum in Japan, and I look forward to contributing to the next chapter of development together with the team,” Yamasaki said.
The company said that Casey Sandler, who has managed the Japanese branch on an interim basis since Aug. 1, 2025, has decided to continue his career outside HDI Global. Hullin thanked Sandler for his “commitment and the valuable contributions he made in the various roles he held at HDI Global Japan” and said his leadership had strengthened the company’s position in the market.
Singapore-based digital insurance platform KoverNow has added two senior executives as it develops its technology and finance functions to support operations in Asia-Pacific and other regions. The company has named Alex Abramidis as chief technology officer. In this position, he will be responsible for KoverNow’s technology roadmap, including platform architecture, product development, and user experience. His remit covers the digital platform that supports insurance solutions for high-value personal property, accessed through the firm’s app and partner channels.
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Abramidis has worked on large-scale technology and digital projects in regulated industries such as banking and insurance. His experience spans IT consulting, systems architecture, and end-to-end delivery of core platforms, with a focus on integrating technology with regulatory and business requirements. He has also founded companies, bringing exposure to both corporate and start-up environments. Stephan Kaiser, CEO at KoverNow, commented: “Alex brings a depth of technical expertise that we need at KoverNow to take the next steps on our journey to deliver fit-for-purpose digital insurance. His expertise in product innovation and technology leadership makes him uniquely qualified to accelerate our ambitions in both consumer and partner-driven markets, enabling KoverNow to continue to set the standard for flexible, digital-first insurance experiences.”
KoverNow has also appointed Kevin Lee as chief financial officer. In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Kevin Lee as chief financial officer at KoverNow. Kevin brings over 25 years of experience spanning the financial and water industries, with deep expertise in corporate and loan restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives.”
According to the statement, Lee has led acquisition and merger transactions in various sectors and managed large finance functions. His previous roles include work on major financing and capital-raising programmes, notably establishing a Ringgit Malaysia 20 billion AAA-rated green sukuk programme for a prior organisation. KoverNow said his appointment is intended to support its growth in digital insurance and its approach to capital and funding across the region.
In India, Policybazaar for Business, the corporate insurance division of Policybazaar.com, has appointed Balasundaram R as senior advisory board member and head of marine practice. The role is focused on strengthening expertise in marine lines serving Indian corporate clients. Balasundaram has more than four decades of experience in the Indian general insurance market. His background includes underwriting, claims management, and solutions structuring across several classes of business, with marine cargo as a core area of specialisation. He also has experience in finance, supporting his work on programmes for complex corporate risks such as cargo and hull.
Over the course of his career, Balasundaram has helped design insurance solutions for corporate accounts, including cover structures, retentions, and pricing approaches. He has also held responsibilities in distribution, negotiations, and team leadership, and has been involved in training and mentoring staff at different seniority levels. He is active in industry education and professional forums. Balasundaram serves as visiting faculty at institutions including the National Insurance Academy and the College of Insurance, and regularly appears as a speaker and panellist at events organised by bodies such as the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI), Insurance Institute of India (III), and National Insurance Academy (NIA).
“We are delighted to welcome an industry stalwart of Mr. Balasundaram R’s stature to our senior advisory board. His four decades of hands-on experience in general insurance, particularly in complex areas such as complex marine cargo and hull exposures, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our technical depth and advisory capabilities. His strong commitment to mentorship and training aligns closely with our mission of delivering robust, well-structured insurance solutions to India’s businesses,” said Sajja Praveen Chowdary, director, Policybazaar for Business, as reported by BFSI. Policybazaar for Business said bringing Balasundaram onto the advisory board is part of its effort to broaden subject-matter expertise and advisory capacity for Indian enterprises with marine, trade, and supply chain exposures.
