International insurance broker, Howden has appointed Cesare Lai as Head of Employee Benefits and Wellbeing for Howden in Italy.
Within his new role, Lai brings a wealth of experience, having worked for over 20 years within the industry.
Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer at Generali Welion. Prior to that he spent eleven years at WTW, where nine of those years he spent serving as Head of Health & Benefits, Italy.
Lai also previously worked at Mercer and AIG.
With the post-pandemic landscape driving changes in employees’ expectations in benefits and wellbeing, many global businesses are continuing to face a “war for talent” and Employee Benefits & Wellbeing have an increasingly important role to play within helping employers stand out from the competition.
Many businesses are now revisiting their benefits strategies, on a local, regional, and global scale, to ensure they remain relevant and fit for purpose.
Addressing his new role, Lai, said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to join the Howden team at such a pivotal time for the Employee Benefits and Wellbeing sector. HR needs are changing quickly and companies require skilled consultants and innovative IT solutions to provide the best employee experience and engage, attract and retain talent. I look forward to working with clients in Italy and delivering the best solutions to help them adapt to these changing needs.”
Enrico Nanni, Chief Commercial Officer, Howden Europe, commented: “Employee Benefits and Wellbeing are important pillars of our growth strategy in Europe and the recent investment in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands is a testament to our commitment to enhance our capabilities in these sectors.
“At Howden, our mission is to help our clients adapt to their needs in a changing world; building a compelling Employee Benefits proposition and helping them look after their people is core to delivering on that promise.
“As we continue our fast expansion in Italy, following the recent acquisition of Assiteca, the third largest broker in the country, we welcome Cesare to our team of now over 800 colleagues in 20 offices across the country.”
Glenn Thomas, Global Practice Leader, Howden Employee Benefits, added: “Our belief has always been that to offer high-quality consultancy services, you need outstanding talent empowered by digital solutions and data analytics.
“Today’s announcement about Cesare joining the team is truly a testament of our strategy in action as we continue building an international footprint of Employee Benefits and Wellbeing specialists globally. It reinforces Howden’s commitment to bring choice to clients with multi-national needs, as we continue to attract the best talent and grow our international footprint.
“The Howden family remains guided by our core People First principle and the unwavering commitment to deliver a personal service and the best solutions for our clients.”
