Head L&H Underwriting & Claims Office

Are you a seasoned technical leader in Life & Health (re)insurance, ready to shape the future of underwriting and claims across one of the world's most dynamic and diverse regions? This is a rare opportunity to drive technical excellence, lead a vibrant community of experts, and make a lasting impact across the APAC ex China (APAX) market.

About the Role

The Head L&H Underwriting & Claims Office APAX provides technical leadership for Underwriting & Claims across APAX, ensuring the consistent application and evolution of Swiss Re's underwriting and claims philosophy, strong technical governance and quality assurance, and continued development of our underwriting and claims capabilities.

The role translates Swiss Re's global underwriting and claims philosophy, standards and risk appetite into the APAX context, reflecting the region's diverse markets, distribution models and evolving risk landscape. It provides senior technical judgement on complex and emerging risks and works closely with market teams and Global Underwriting & Claims to ensure that regional perspectives are appropriately reflected in the evolution of global philosophy and standards.

A key part of the role is to drive the evolution of underwriting approaches in APAX. Working closely with Underwriting Solutions and other partners, the role brings together underwriting expertise, data and technology to advance how we assess and accept risks, while ensuring that new approaches remain technically sound and appropriately embedded into underwriting philosophy and practice.

The role is responsible for technical governance and quality assurance across Underwriting & Claims in APAX. This includes maintaining an effective first-line assurance framework, conducting targeted technical deep-dives into market and service teams, overseeing quality assurance and adherence to technical standards, identifying systemic weaknesses and ensuring appropriate remediation. Insights from these activities should be used to continuously strengthen technical standards, processes and capabilities across the region.

The Head L&H Underwriting & Claims Office APAX also leads the regional Underwriting & Claims community, building strong connections across markets, Bangalore and Global Underwriting & Claims. The role is expected to develop technical capabilities and future leaders, foster knowledge sharing and create an environment in which technical expertise can grow and have impact. The location Head Underwriting & Claims across APAC ex China will have a dotted reporting line into this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership for L&H Underwriting & Claims across APAX and translate global philosophy, standards and risk appetite into the regional context
• Ensure consistent and high-quality application of underwriting and claims philosophy, standards, procedures and authorities across APAX
• Drive the evolution of underwriting approaches in APAX, working closely with Underwriting Solutions and other partners to leverage data, technology and new approaches to risk assessment and acceptance
  Own senior regional Underwriting & Claims relationships with key clients, bringing technical expertise and risk insights to strategic client discussions and ensuring strong connectivity between client needs, market teams and the wider UW&C community
• Drive external thought leadership through client forums, industry engagement and public speaking, strengthening Swiss Re's position as a technical expert and knowledge partner
• Represent APAX towards Global Underwriting & Claims and contribute regional perspectives to the development of global philosophy, standards and priorities
• Provide senior technical judgement and guidance on complex, material or emerging underwriting and claims matters, including matters exceeding local authorities where applicable
• Own and continuously strengthen the regional technical governance and quality assurance framework for Underwriting & Claims
• Conduct and oversee targeted technical deep-dives, quality reviews and other first-line assurance activities across market and service teams
• Build and lead strong Underwriting & Claims technical communities across APAX, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between markets, our service center in Bangalore and global teams
• Develop technical talent and future leaders and contribute to attractive and sustainable career paths for underwriting and claims professionals

About the Team

The Centre for Technical and Operational Excellence APAX enables APAX to consistently deliver results by setting technical standards, building strong technical communities and driving disciplined execution.

The Centre brings together the Actuarial and Underwriting & Claims Offices as well as our Bangalore capabilities, working closely with market teams and global functions. It provides technical leadership across APAX, strengthens governance and operational discipline, and supports the development of strong and connected technical communities across the region.

The L&H Underwriting & Claims Office is a core part of the Centre, providing technical leadership, governance and quality assurance for Underwriting & Claims across APAX. The team connects expertise across markets, Bangalore and Global Underwriting & Claims and plays an important role in translating global philosophy into the APAX context, evolving underwriting approaches and building technical capabilities across the region.

About You

• At least 15 years' experience in L&H (re)insurance, with strong technical expertise in underwriting and/or claims and a sound understanding of L&H products and profitability drivers
• Recognised technical leader with the judgement and credibility to provide direction on complex matters and influence senior stakeholders
• Strong understanding of underwriting philosophy, risk assessment and risk appetite, with the ability to translate global principles into the APAX context
• Strong governance and quality mindset, with experience in technical assurance, reviews and driving effective remediation
• Curiosity and openness to evolve underwriting through data, technology and new approaches, while maintaining sound risk principles
• Proven leadership and people-development skills, with the ability to build strong technical communities and develop future leaders
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship-management skills across markets, functions and global teams
• Relevant professional qualification in L&H Underwriting or Claims (e.g. CII, FALU or equivalent) is an advantage

About Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. We cover both Property & Casualty and Life & Health. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.

We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.

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