Gallagher & Co., the international insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting group, has appointed Hassan Ashtari as Senior Executive Officer (SEO) of its Middle East joint venture with Artex Risk Solutions.
The joint venture operates from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and provides alternative risk and captive management solutions across the region.
In his new capacity, Ashtari will be responsible for overseeing the strategic development of the venture, strengthening client engagement, and managing the local team. He will continue to serve as Chief Client Officer for Gallagher’s Middle East and Africa specialty and facultative reinsurance broking business, a role he has held since 2024.
Ashtari has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance sector. His background includes structuring and placing domestic, regional and international re/insurance programmes for multinational clients operating across a broad range of industries in the Middle East.
Gallagher and Artex began working together in 2024 to expand access to alternative risk transfer and captive management services in the region. Artex, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gallagher, focuses on alternative risk solutions and delivers services including insurance and captive management, programme and facility management, insurance-linked securities (ILS), and structured transaction administration to clients globally.
Gallagher maintains an established footprint in the Middle East, supported by long-standing regional teams. The firm employs more than 100 specialty, facultative and treaty professionals in the region, advising clients in sectors such as aerospace, construction, marine, energy, power, renewables, special risks, crisis management and financial lines.
The group also provides retail broking services through its joint venture with ACE Gallagher, an insurance brokerage with origins dating back to 1952 and offices across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon and Greece.
Ashtari commented: “The expansion of my role to work across both teams is a fantastic opportunity and will ensure clients can access the best possible insurance solutions for their needs, be that a captive or more traditional insurance products and services. With many complex multinational firms operating in the region our team can provide holistic advice and solutions to any range of risks that firms need to manage.”
Paul Eaton, CEO Artex EMEA, added: “I’m delighted that Hassan has taken on this role in the local market, which reflects both Artex and Gallagher’s commitment to enhancing our client offering for alternative risk solutions whilst strengthening our presence in the region. We believe there is real appetite and strong growth opportunities for our professional range of services, spanning the full cycle of the captive life from feasibility to management, and run off.”
