General Manager - Underwriting & Reinsurance

Overview

The General Manager – Underwriting & Reinsurance oversees the company’s technical results across Underwriting management, Reinsurance management, Customer service and general departmental operations. The role sets and enforces underwriting strategy, pricing and risk appetite across all non-life classes, and designs and places a reinsurance programme that protects capital and earnings at an efficient cost. Oversees retention of the business and ensures renewal budget, specialty and facultative budget is achieved.

As an ExCo member, the role shapes company strategy and ensures profitable growth stays within the Board-approved risk appetite, Group technical standards, and the requirements of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) under the Insurance Act (Cap 487).

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategy and Executive Leadership (15%)

• Contribute to company strategy as an ExCo member and translate it into a three-year underwriting and reinsurance plan
• Define target portfolio mix by class, channel and segment, with growth and profitability targets for each
• Lead the technical input into the annual business plan, budget and capital plan
• Represent underwriting and reinsurance at Board committee meetings

Underwriting Management (25%)

• Set the underwriting policy, guidelines and risk appetite for every class, and keep them current
• Oversee acceptance of large, complex and non-standard risks within delegated authority
• Maintain a tiered authority framework for underwriters, brokers, agents and bancassurance partners, with regular audit of its use
• Drive portfolio remediation: re-price, re-underwrite or exit loss-making segments and accounts
• Ensure accurate risk surveys, risk engineering and loss-prevention support for commercial and corporate clients

Pricing and Portfolio Performance (15%)

• Own technical pricing and rating models for all classes, working with Actuarial
• Monitor loss ratios, combined ratios, rate adequacy and premium leakage monthly, and act on adverse trends
• Work with Claims on claims-cost insight, reserving trends and fraud patterns that affect pricing
• Approve new products and product changes, including filing with the IRA where required

Reinsurance (25%)

• Design the annual reinsurance programme (treaty and facultative) to fit risk appetite, capital and Group guidelines
• Lead renewal negotiations with brokers, reinsurers and Group reinsurance, and secure Board approval of the programme
• Ensure compliance with statutory cessions and local-placement rules, and file treaty arrangements with the IRA on time
• Manage reinsurer security: counterparty ratings, concentration limits and credit exposure
• Oversee reinsurance accounting, bordereaux, recoveries and reconciliation with Finance, keeping reinsurance debtors within target
• Model catastrophe and accumulation exposure (such as flood, political violence and aggregates) and buy protection to match

Risk, Compliance and Governance (10%)

• Keep underwriting and reinsurance within IRA requirements, Group standards and internal policy
• Support risk-based capital, IFRS 17 and ORSA processes with accurate technical data and assumptions
• Maintain underwriting risk registers, controls and audit action plans, closing findings on time
• Uphold Treating Customers Fairly, AML/CFT and sanctions screening in the underwriting process

People and Capability (10%)

• Lead, develop and retain a high-performing technical team, with clear succession for each key role
• Build technical depth through professional qualifications (CII, IIK), training and structured delegated-authority growth
• Champion data, automation and digital underwriting tools that improve speed, accuracy and customer experience
• Champion Old Mutual’s purpose, values, and victory condition across the organization, shaping culture and behavior

Skills and Competencies

• People management
• Complexity management
• Team building
• Accountability
• Business insight
• Strategic vision
• Results orientation
• Customer focus
• Innovation cultivation
• Talent development
• Technical guidance and decision-making

Knowledge & Experience

• Good knowledge in all General insurance products
• Good technical knowledge in underwriting and Reinsurance
• Good communication skills
• Current in political and social affairs
• Computer literacy
• Diplomacy and tact
• Honesty and Integrity
• Good assessment and analytical skills
• Ability to interact at all levels

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree
• MBA degree (Added advantage)
• ACII
• 10 years’ experience, 5 in Top Management