Willis, a WTW business, has announced the appointment of Conor Keating (pictured left) as head of cyber, Asia, and Carlos Grijalva (pictured right) as head of cyber sales, Asia. Both roles are effective immediately.
Keating, based in Singapore, moves into the head of cyber, Asia, position after serving as cyber growth leader at Willis. He has more than nine years of experience in cyber risk advisory and insurance, and will now be responsible for advancing Willis’ cyber strategy across Asia. His remit includes overseeing strategic broking, market engagement, and enhancing client relationships.
Keating’s background includes time in London, where he worked as a wholesale specialist for North America and international markets, before shifting to UK retail cyber business. Since joining Willis in 2024, he has contributed to the expansion of the firm’s cyber capabilities in Asia.
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Grijalva, who previously led cyber operations for Hong Kong and Greater China, will now take on the broader role of head of cyber sales for Asia, reporting to Keating. Based in Hong Kong, Grijalva’s new responsibilities include driving new business, strengthening engagement at country level, and expanding distribution channels for cyber solutions across the region. He brings experience in product development, underwriting, and sales leadership from previous roles with insurers.
Peter Foster, chairman, Global FINEX Cyber and Cyber Risk Solutions at Willis, said Keating and Grijalva offer varied backgrounds and a strong focus on client needs, which will enhance the company’s ability to serve as a leading partner for cyber risk management in Asia. “While many boards feel confident in their cyber readiness, losses are often deeper and more costly than expected, and regulatory demands are rising. Our mission is to help organisations in Asia close this gap – by delivering innovative solutions and supporting them in achieving true cyber resilience in a rapidly evolving threat landscape,” Foster said.
Namit Mahajan, head of FINEX Asia at Willis, added: “These promotions reflect our commitment to developing internal expertise and creating meaningful career growth opportunities for our colleagues across Asia. Asia’s risk landscape is dynamic and fast evolving. Conor and Carlos have shown exceptional vision in helping clients navigate these challenges. Their appointments reinforce our focus on delivering impactful cyber risk solutions across the region.”
The leadership changes at Willis come as cyber risk continues to be a key issue for executives worldwide. According to Beazley’s 2025 Risk & Resilience report, 29% of surveyed global executives now consider cyber risk their top concern, an increase from 26% in 2024. This is the first rise in reported concern since 2021. Despite this, 83% of respondents said they felt prepared to manage cyber threats, up from 74% the previous year.
The report, based on a global survey of business leaders, found a growing gap between concern about cyber risk and confidence in organisational preparedness. It identified several areas of risk, including cyber warfare, vulnerabilities in third-party systems, and the use of artificial intelligence in ransomware attacks. Hacktivism, where actors target businesses for political or ideological reasons, is also highlighted as an emerging challenge.
In a separate development, Willis has joined forces with Rare, a global conservation organisation, and the government of the Philippines to introduce the country’s first parametric insurance product for small-scale fishers. The initiative is supported by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), and the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), with funding from the governments of Canada and the UK.
The pilot program aims to provide insurance coverage to 14,200 small-scale fishers in 24 coastal municipalities, protecting them against income loss when severe weather prevents safe fishing. BFAR will act as the policyholder, offering the insurance as a benefit to registered fishers who commit to sustainable practices. The government is funding premiums for the pilot, and coverage can provide up to US$100 per policy cycle to offset lost income. Roy Ortega of BFAR, who leads the Technical Working Group on Parametric Insurance, said: “This is not just insurance; it is an investment in our fishers.”
Dr. Christopher Au, head of APAC Climate Risk Centre at Willis, explained that there are more than 1.9 million small-scale fishers whose livelihoods depend on nearshore waters, and they face growing threats from climate-related events like strong winds, turbulent seas, and heavy rain. “The new insurance solution, the first of its kind in the Philippines, uses a weather index based on wind speed, sea state, and rainfall to determine payout eligibility, ensuring timely and direct compensation to fishers when fishing days are lost,” Au said.
The risk transfer is underpinned by The Natural Disaster Fund, a public-private initiative supported by Hannover Re and managed by Global Parametrics Limited. The insurance uses a parametric index, calculated over five-day periods and benchmarked against historical data, to determine when payouts are triggered. The product is designed to be scalable and affordable, providing timely financial support to fishers when adverse weather occurs.
Brett Jenks, CEO of Rare, said: “This pilot takes a proven product – parametric insurance – and applies it to a new context, insuring people rather than assets. The result will be less financial pressure on households, less fishing pressure on ecosystems, and more resilient coastal communities.”
Chip Cunliffe, senior director of innovation and pipeline development at ORRAA, commented: “This partnership represents a vital step in building market-ready solutions that deliver innovative financial solutions like parametric insurance to help protect income and build the resilience of climate vulnerable coastal communities in the Philippines.”
Israel Q. De La Cruz, department manager at PCIC, said: “This is an important first for PCIC as we explore revenue-based parametric insurance for fishers. We see this as a complement to our existing coverage, offering a faster, data-triggered option that can respond when fishers are unable to go to sea. If the pilot proves successful, we are hopeful it can evolve into a nationally scalable tool for protecting coastal livelihoods.”
The initiative is part of ORRAA’s broader goal to support climate resilience for vulnerable coastal populations by developing new financial instruments and insurance products that help communities adapt to changing environmental conditions.
