Insurers and professional services firms active in Asia’s insurance markets have announced senior appointments spanning marine underwriting, life insurance management, and regulatory-focused legal services.
HDI Global SE’s Singapore operation has named Peter Schraa as head of marine, effective Dec. 1, as the corporate and specialty carrier continues to develop its regional marine business. Singapore is a key location for HDI Global’s Asia-Pacific operations, given its role as a maritime, trade, and logistics centre. With the appointment, the insurer plans to increase its focus on cargo, hull, and related marine lines as supply chain and transport risks evolve across Southeast Asia.
Schraa has more than two decades of industry experience in Europe and close to 10 years in Singapore, predominantly in senior underwriting roles with primary insurers. In his new position, he will work with HDI Global’s local underwriting team to develop the marine portfolio and work with brokers and insureds across the region. He reports to Alex Tarantino, managing director and principal officer of HDI Global Singapore.
Commenting on his appointment, Schraa said: “I am thrilled to join HDI Global at such an exciting and important phase of growth. It is a great opportunity to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to taking the marine business to new heights. I look forward to working alongside talented colleagues to expand our book of business in Southeast Asia and help drive success for the company and our clients.”
Tarantino said Schraa’s experience would support the company’s efforts to respond to marine risk needs in Southeast Asia. “Peter’s appointment is an important step in deepening our marine expertise on the ground, sharpening our response to client needs, and reinforcing our position as their preferred partner in transformation,” he said, adding that the insurer aims to build “a strong marine portfolio in the whole region” for clients and brokers.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has promoted Ramakrishnan Chander to managing director with effect from Dec. 1, following a notification from the government of India. Chander joined LIC in 1990 as an assistant administrative officer and has since held a range of leadership positions, including senior divisional manager, regional manager for marketing and pension and group schemes, and executive director for the corporation’s international operations strategic business unit.
Immediately before his elevation, Chander served as LIC’s chief investment officer and executive director of the Investment (Front Office) Department, overseeing one of the country’s largest institutional investment portfolios on behalf of policyholders and shareholders. In that role, he led asset allocation and portfolio management activities aligned with the corporation’s long-term obligations.
Chander is a science graduate, holds a postgraduate diploma in financial management, and is a fellow of the Insurance Institute of India. His background spans domestic and international life insurance operations, pensions and group business, distribution, and investments, giving him exposure to multiple business lines within LIC.
As managing director, Chander is expected to draw on this experience across LIC’s business lines, including its product, operational, and digital initiatives in both retail and group segments.
Clyde & Co has appointed former Hong Kong Insurance Authority (IA) senior official Patrick Peng as partner and head of corporate, Greater China, in a role focused on corporate and regulatory work for the firm’s insurance-focused practice in the region.
Peng joins from the Hong Kong IA, where he served as general counsel (acting). Over more than eight years with the regulator, he worked on the design and implementation of a range of insurance regulatory regimes. These included initiatives on Hong Kong’s captive insurance domicile, insurance-linked securities, risk-based capital, group-wide supervision, and corporate re-domiciliation.
His regulatory work has spanned both life and non-life (re)insurance, including corporate governance, licensing, market conduct, and policy development. Earlier in his career, Peng practiced as a corporate lawyer with US law firms, representing financial institutions in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, portfolio transfers, initial public offerings, and other corporate transactions.
Peng is also active in industry and academic roles. He serves as a part-time lecturer at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, is vice president of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Actuarial and Insurance Industry Academy, and is a director of The Hong Kong Insurance Law Association.
Commenting on the appointment, Simon McConnell, partner, APAC board chair, Hong Kong, said: “Patrick is extremely well regarded in the market. His sophisticated understanding of the regulatory process, combined with his proven track record in corporate law, is a tremendous asset for our clients. His appointment underscores our commitment to providing top-tier, strategic advice that helps clients succeed in the Greater China insurance market.”
Hong Kong managing partner Fei Kwok said Peng’s experience is expected to be relevant to a wide range of market participants. “Family offices and digital asset participants will also greatly benefit from Patrick’s extensive experience. His arrival enables us to further expand the firm’s strong presence in our core sectors across Hong Kong, Beijing, and the Greater Bay Area,” Kwok said.
Peng said his regulatory background would inform his work with clients navigating evolving frameworks in Greater China. “Having been closely involved with the regulatory process, I not only understand the principles and policy goals that shape the landscape but practice them. I look forward to working with the firm’s clients to help them navigate this complexity and build compliant, market-leading strategies. The firm’s powerful global platform is ideally positioned to help clients capitalise on the immense opportunities across Greater China,” he said.
The firm said the appointment forms part of its corporate and regulatory insurance strategy in the region. Clyde & Co’s global insurance group includes about 2,400 lawyers in more than 70 offices worldwide, advising on matters across major lines of insurance business.
