H.W. Kaufman Group has announced it is making a strategic investment in CARE Insurance Brokers, an insurance and risk management organisation based in Dubai, whereupon regulatory approval, the company will be rebranded as Burns & Wilcox UAE, marking Kaufman’s first office in the Middle East.
Burns & Wilcox UAE is set to operate from a new location in the business district of Dubai under the leadership of Rajendran M, who will oversee regional growth, and Aynis Ifthiker, who will manage the UAE office.
Kaufman describes Rajendran as a seasoned insurance professional with over 35 years of experience in the industry, primarily in the Middle East and India.
He most recently served as Managing Director – Middle East of Al Futtaim Willis Co. LLC, a Joint venture between Willis Towers Watson and Al Futtaim Group.
Meanwhile, Ifthiker’s career includes positions with international brokers such as Sedgwick, HSBC, and Al Futtaim Willis, where she was also a board member for the Bahrain operations.
Kaufman noted that Ifthiker has extensive technical knowledge and maintains strong relationships with some of the largest retail, real estate, and construction businesses in the Middle East.
Kaufman Executive Vice President, Jodie Kaufman Davis, commented, “We have signaled to the marketplace that Kaufman is committed to global expansion, targeting financial and insurance hubs where our expertise and depth of market relationships will bring value to clients and serve as an important driver of long-term growth.
“Dubai is a major center of commerce with business that can flow through Kaufman’s London and European platforms. We look forward to capitalizing on the numerous opportunities within the UAE and across the Middle East.”
According to Kaufman, the Burns & Wilcox UAE team will work closely with H.W. Kaufman International operations, based in London.
