The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has elected a female president to lead the LIAM Management Committee for the term 2018/19. This marks the first time in the 44-year history of LIAM that the association is led by a female president.
Ms Anusha Thavarajah, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Bhd. was unanimously elected as LIAM new President at the 44th Annual General Meeting held on 30 March 2018, succeeding Mr Toi See Jong who had completed his three-year term as President.
Mr Rangam Bir, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad was elected as Vice-President of LIAM.
For the term 2018/2019, the Association will be supported by seven other members namely, Mr Joseph Gross, CEO of Allianz Life Insurance Bhd, Mr Ramzi Toubassy, CEO of AmMetLife Insurance Berhad, YBhg. Dato Koh Yaw Hui, CEO of Great Eastern Life Assurance (M) Berhad, Ms Loh Guat Lan, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Hong Leong Assurance Berhad, Mr Gan Leong Hin, CEO of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad, Mr Toi See Jong, CEO of Tokio Marine Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd and Mr Philip Smith, CEO of Zurich Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad.
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LIAM continues to work very closely with the regulatory authorities and stakeholders in embarking on various educational and consumer awareness programmes in promoting and developing a progressive life insurance industry and to narrow the protection gaps and fulfil its aspiration to achieve the nation’s financial inclusion agenda.
About Ms Anusha Thavarajah
Anusha was appointed to head AIA Bhd., a leading life insurer in Malaysia with total assets worth RM51 billion (as at 30 November 2017) and one of AIA Group’s top five markets, in June 2015. In addition to its three main business lines – Agency, Partnership Distribution and Corporate Solutions, she is also responsible for AIA’s General Insurance, Pension and Asset Management, and Health Services units, as well as AIA PUBLIC Takaful Bhd, AIA’s jointly owned Takaful company with Public Bank Berhad and Public Islamic Bank Berhad.
Anusha’s career in insurance spans over 25 years and began in the United Kingdom. She returned to Malaysia in 2002 and held several leadership roles in AIA and ING, including as AIA’s Deputy General Manager of Operations, Finance and Actuarial where she played a key role in the successful integration of AIA and ING’s businesses in Malaysia. Prior to her CEO appointment, Anusha was Regional Business Development Director at AIA Group Limited, where she provided strategic leadership to AIA’s businesses in Southeast Asia.
Anusha graduated with First Class Honours in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Birmingham. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, United Kingdom.
About Mr Rangam Bir
Rangam Bir, was appointed to the helm of Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad in December 2016. He is an established international business leader with over 21 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry.
Throughout his career, he has gained experience in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and established a successful track record of building winning businesses in fast growing emerging markets by leading large teams in multicultural and international business environments.
Prior to joining Gibraltar BSN, he was with the Allianz Group where he spent 19 years in various roles. Most recently, he was the CEO of Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad where he led the company through a digital transformation, establishing it as a leader in innovative digital business models and a top-five player in the Life and Health segment in Malaysia.
Previously, in Singapore he led the regional Life & Health Division as well as the regional Property & Casualty business of Allianz Asia Pacific as regional general manager.
Bir holds a Master of Management Studies in Finance and is an electronics engineer by training.
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