Reinsurance broker Gallagher Re has made senior appointments in China, with a new CEO for the Mainland China and Hong Kong business, as it hired Jia Lou from rival Guy Carpenter to take on the role.
Jia Lou is a well-known figure in the China insurance and reinsurance marketplace, and has over 15 years’ experience leading a developing reinsurance broking teams and business in the region.
Most recently, he worked at Guy Carpenter, Managing Director, Head of the South China region and Agriculture, based in Hong Kong.
He has also worked in London, where he began his career, but moved back to the region in 2010 to lead a newly established China Agriculture reinsurance treaty practice.
Jia Lou will be responsible for Gallagher Re’s strategic planning and execution within the Mainland China and Hong Kong markets, reporting to Mark Morley, Head of Asia Pacific for Gallagher Re.
In addition, Alex Xia has joined as Head of Gallagher Re in Beijing, leaving his previous role at Munich Re.
Xia will be tasked with leading the local reinsurance broking team in Beijing to develop, diversify and strengthen the client offering and service proposition in the northern China region. He will report to Jia Lou.
Xia began his career at PICC P&C, working there for 19 years in a range of direct insurance and reinsurance positions, but most recently he was Deputy Head of Client Management, North China, for Munich Re, a role he held since 2016.
Mark Morley commented on the two appointments, “We have an ambitious strategy for sustainable growth in the China Market, both on the Mainland and in Hong Kong, and are firmly focused on enhancing our client proposition of advocacy, advisory and risk transfer solutions. That strategy demands continued investment in people, just as much as it does service offering, and we are therefore pleased to welcome Jia and Alex to the team to drive our businesses in the region for the benefit of clients and colleagues.
“Their leadership credentials, market knowledge and experience speak for themselves and we are delighted they have chosen to join Gallagher Re and lead our growing teams across Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.”
Jia Lou also said, “Gallagher Re’s ambition and significant potential for expansion in Mainland China and Hong Kong creates an exciting opportunity for a business leader – one that I am delighted to accept. With such strong prospects for growth, I’m looking forward to bringing to bear the full power of Gallagher Re’s global capabilities and connectivity for the benefits of our clients, and building out our teams across the region.”
