Antarah appoints new CEO for Middle East and Africa
Leadership transitions affect specialty underwriting, claims, financial, and actuarial oversight across Asian markets.
Antarah appoints CEO for Middle East and Africa
Antarah, a managing general agency within The Ardonagh Group, has named Antonio El Hokayem as CEO, pending standard regulatory approvals.
El Hokayem comes to the role from Gallagher, where he served in multiple capacities since 2022, including financial lines director for the Middle East and Africa and specialty head for Saudi Arabia. Prior to Gallagher, he worked for three years at Zurich as a financial lines underwriter and began his insurance career as a broker at Chedid Re.
This appointment brings a leader versed in underwriting, placement, and portfolio management to oversee Antarah’s operations throughout the Middle East and Africa.
Antarah functions as an authorized Lloyd’s of London Coverholder, operating as an MGA and reinsurance intermediary with a focus on Middle Eastern and African markets. The company’s multi-line offering leverages binding authorities and Lloyd’s of London capacity.
Ardonagh Group CEO David Ross stated: “Antonio’s appointment represents a significant step in the development of the group’s proposition across the Middle East and Africa, a market where we are seeing continued demand for sophisticated specialty solutions.”
El Hokayem indicated the firm would prioritize building specialized capabilities across the region and investigate technology and AI-driven underwriting tools. “Our ambition is clear: to build a leading multi-line specialty MGA across the Middle East and Africa, developing specialist capabilities that respond directly to the needs of clients across the region,” he explained.
He further noted the organization would examine how technology and AI-enabled underwriting could enhance decision-making and underwriting efficiency.
McLarens changes Middle East regional leadership
Claims management firm McLarens has selected Ollie Waterman as regional director, Middle East, effective October 1, succeeding Malcolm Addy, who will retire by the end of 2026.
Waterman, previously holding the role of commercial development director, Middle East, will now manage the regional operations comprehensively. Mahesh Ganesan, operations director, Middle East, will maintain his current position.
As a Chartered Loss Adjuster, Waterman cultivated his professional journey addressing major and complex losses within the London market before relocating to Dubai in 2022. He later became head of property for the Middle East at a global adjusting company, overseeing large-scale losses, financial management, and team leadership across the region.
His expanded role encompasses McLarens’ primary practice areas of property and casualty, construction and engineering, and marine and specialty lines. He will collaborate with McLarens Aviation and Lloyd Warwick International (LWI) teams in the area.
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Steven Wallace, managing director, EMEA, remarked: “Malcolm has been instrumental in establishing McLarens as a serious player in the Middle East, and we thank him for his significant contribution. Ollie is a natural practitioner leader – he brings exactly the combination of technical depth, commercial instinct, and regional knowledge this role demands.”
Markel unifies Singapore and Malaysia operations
Markel Insurance has installed Kevin Leung as managing director, Southeast Asia, effective immediately, following its move to consolidate Singapore and Malaysia operations under a unified Southeast Asia framework.
Markel noted that recruitment for his replacement is in progress. He will supervise activities in Singapore and Malaysia, reporting to Sucheng Chang, managing director of Asia Pacific.
The revised structure merges the two markets under a singular Southeast Asia leadership role while preserving local management in Malaysia.
Chang stated: “Bringing our Singapore and Malaysia teams together strengthens our ability to serve brokers and clients by creating a more connected and coordinated regional platform.”
Leung possesses over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. He joined Markel in 2023 as chief underwriting officer, Asia Pacific, after holding senior roles at Swiss Re, Catlin, ACE Group, and AIG.
Regulators and State-Owned Firms Adjust Executive Roles
He will head the regulator’s Financial Examination Group. Buncio joined the commission on September 7 after a career in banking and government. His previous role was senior director and head of transaction banking at ANZ Group.
In India, Dinesh Pant has taken a new position as a whole-time director, actuary, at the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India. His appointment reduces the number of serving managing directors at Life Insurance Corporation of India to two. One MD position remains vacant since Sat Pal Bhanoo retired in December 2025.
Leadership changes continue as the Financial Services Institutions Bureau lacks a chairman. This bureau recommends appointments to state-owned financial institution boards. Business Standard reports vacancies among non-government members as well.
Philippines regulator appoints banking executive
Previously, he served as director for transaction banking, corporate and institutional banking, and non-bank financial institutions from July 2017 to March 2018.
Buncio’s governmental career included service as senior political affairs officer to then-Sen. Robert Jaworski from June 1998 to January 2001.
