Africa Specialty Risks (ASR) has appointed Elaine Mason (pictured) as head of claims, tasking her with leading a modernization drive that includes upgrading claims technology, refining operational strategy, and recruiting specialized talent across its global platforms.
Based in London, Mason will oversee claims management across ASR’s underwriting operations in Bermuda, Mauritius, and Lloyd’s. Her responsibilities include developing the company’s claims operations, philosophy, and technology while implementing a talent strategy aimed at building a team of experienced claims professionals. She will report to chief operations officer (COO) Tunu Sokiri.
Mason brings more than 40 years of industry experience to the position. Before joining ASR, she spent nearly two decades at ACE European Group, now Chubb, holding senior claims roles and serving on several Lloyd’s and Lloyd’s Market Association claims committees.
For the past 15 years, she led Belvedere Mead, a claims consultancy she founded to provide claims expertise to specialty insurance organizations within the London market. Mason is an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a former examiner of the institute.
“The claims service is key to any insurance operation, and I am enthusiastic to be in a position to enhance and grow the ASR claims function across the geographies we operate in,” said Mason. “I look forward to working with our underwriters, brokers and other business partners to ensure our clients and their businesses can recover speedily should they unfortunately need to call their insurance coverage.”
Sokiri said ASR is focused on ensuring that its claims function serves as a valuable business asset as it continues to grow across emerging markets.
“As we build our product capabilities and geographic reach access emerging markets, we need to ensure our claims function is a true asset to our business,” Sokiri added. “Elaine has significant experience at handling technical claims, alongside strong operational knowledge, through a storied career and I’m thrilled to welcome her to ASR.”
Sokiri, who joined ASR in October as COO, oversees operational and technology functions, including infrastructure, data, artificial intelligence, and digital strategy. Before joining ASR, he served as head of Europe operations at Travelers Europe and held previous positions at Brit, SCOR, Munich Re, Chaucer, ACE, and Faraday.
The leadership developments follow a series of milestones for ASR. In August, Moody’s revised its outlook on the company’s Baa1 insurance financial strength rating to positive, citing its improved market position, geographic diversification, and consistent underwriting profitability. Fitch had previously assigned a positive outlook to ASR’s BBB+ rating.
ASR also partnered with the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority (NIFCA) to support a $2 billion risk reduction initiative aimed at enhancing Kenya’s appeal to international investors.
Founded in Africa, ASR provides insurance and reinsurance solutions across developing markets, with underwriting capacity in Bermuda, Mauritius, and through Syndicate 2454 at Lloyd’s.
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