Global insurance group Howden, has announced that Alfred Sham has stepped up to the position of interim CEO, Hong Kong, as Mark Johnson will be stepping down from the role.
Howden has confirmed that Johnson will remain with the firm to ensure an orderly transition until the spring, when he leaves to join a major insurance organisation in Hong Kong
At the same time, the company has also announced the appointments of Charles Yim, Associate Director, Financial Lines and Hui Ling Wong, Regional Director, effective immediately.
Both Yim and Wong will report directly to Sham.
Sham joined Howden in 2013, and has served in a variety of roles in Hong Kong and Singapore, throughout his tenure so far the firm.
Howden noted that Sham has been a crucial contributor to the region’s growth over the past decade, assuming a prominent role in regional M&A opportunities.
Since 2018, Sham has served on the Hong Kong Board of Directors.
Meanwhile, Yim joins Howden from Teneo, where he previously held the role of Associate Director, Financial Advisory.
Before joining Teneo, he held a variety of positions including Assistant Vice President, Private Equity M&A at Marsh & McLennan, as well as Consulting Manager at PwC.
Additionally, Wong joins Howden from specialty managing general agent (MGA), Fusion Specialty, where she previously served as Senior Partner.
She also previously spent four years at re/insurance broker Aon as Head of Transaction Liability, Asia and prior to this worked as an M&A lawyer in some of the most prestigious law firms across Singapore and Hong Kong.
Overall, she brings over 16 years of experience in legal and insurance expertise towards her new role.
Goh Chye Huat, CEO, Howden Asia, commented: “These appointments in Hong Kong position us to do more for our clients in the region and capitalise on emerging opportunities in the market. Alfred has played a pivotal role in the expansion of Howden Asia and will now bring this knowledge and leadership to his position as interim CEO, Howden Hong Kong, during this transitional phase.
“The addition of Charles Yim and Hui Ling Wong will further strengthen our capabilities as we continue to develop our product lines in the region. They will both be valued additions to the Hong Kong office.”
Alfred Sham, Interim CEO, Howden Hong Kong, said: “Hong Kong continues to be a major financial centre in Asia. As we expand our footprint in the territory through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth, it is imperative that we have a market-leading team supporting us to effectively cater to our clients’ needs.”
