Africa Specialty Risks (ASR), the developing-markets-focused re/insurance group, has announced the appointment of Laxmeekant Walikar as Principal Officer and Managing Director (MD), India.
In his new role, Walikar will facilitate ASR’s entry into the Indian market through GIFT City in Gujarat, culminating in the establishment of ASR’s Lloyd’s service company for Syndicate 2454.
He will work closely with Amit Khilosia, Chief Distribution Officer at ASR. Walikar will be responsible for sourcing and developing business across India, building broker and cedant relationships, identifying strategic partnerships, strengthening the company’s local presence and talent base, and advancing ASR’s operations under the GIFT City framework established by the Government of India in 2015.
Walikar brings more than two decades of industry experience across global markets, including India, MENA and Asia-Pacific.
He joins ASR from Volante Global, where he most recently served as Managing Director – Indian Subcontinent, responsible for establishing Volante Syndicate 1699 in India.
Prior to that, Walikar served as Chief Underwriting Officer at AXA XL. He was also Head of Treaty Underwriting at Emirates Insurance Company, where he was responsible for developing and underwriting the Afro-Asia treaty business across Africa, MENA, the CIS/FSU, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Earlier in his career, he held senior reinsurance underwriting roles at Swiss Re, Saudi Re and Al Fajer Re.
