Title:  Head of Underwriting, Southeast Asia

Munich RE, a leading global reinsurer, is recruiting for a Head of Underwriting for its Life and Health business in Southeast Asia (SEA). A dominant player in the SEA market, Munich RE reinsures a comprehensive range of products covering death, disability, critical illness, health, and long-term care risks.

This senior management role involves contributing to the development and execution of the profitable business growth strategy, maintaining underwriting excellence, and supporting the development of underwriting solutions for clients across SEA markets.

Based in Singapore, this position reports to the Managing Director, Life and Health, Southeast Asia and High Net Worth. 
 

Your Role

Underwriting Function Management

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the SEA underwriting team, including case referrals, quotes, product terms, and treaty clauses.
• Ensure Munich RE’s global and regional guidelines are appropriately adapted for SEA markets and implemented promptly. Ensure that underwriting decisions align with these guidelines. Support complex claims investigations.
• Conduct regular reviews of underwriting requirements across major SEA markets, including application form questions, non-medical limits, and medical underwriting requirements.
• Perform regular underwriting audits to ensure cedants’ underwriting practices comply with agreed guidelines.
• Produce effective management reports to inform business decisions.

Business Development

• Support the development and maintenance of the risk appetite for SEA markets. Identify and challenge outdated risk selection practices and promote change through evidence-based research.
• Influence internal underwriting philosophy to align with market needs and context.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with cedant underwriting and product teams. Maintain superior market intelligence.
• Support the assessment and deployment of automated underwriting solutions. Contribute to the development of digital solutions.
• Organize regular client engagement activities, such as seminars, webinars and workshops.

People Leadership

• Lead a team of experienced Life & Health underwriters to appraise and underwrite complex risks.
• Ensure the underwriting team possesses the necessary specialist knowledge and qualifications by attracting talented staff and providing effective coaching.
• Champion a results-focused, client-centric, and collaborative culture.

Industry and Thought Leadership

• Be seen as expert in all matters related to underwriting by the industry.
• Represent Munich Re at industry forums adding to its well-established brand.
   

Your Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in business, medicine, science, or a related field, along with professional qualifications in life insurance underwriting or the insurance industry (e.g., FALU, ALHC, ACII).
• Minimum of 15 years of experience, including at least 5 years within a reinsurance company, underwriting complex Death, Disability, Critical Illness, Health, and Long-Term Care risks.
• Knowledge of Life and Health reinsurance business and propositions.
• High degree of client orientation.
• Strategic thinking, with strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Effective team builder, manager and decision maker.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management and negotiations skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential
• Experience in Southeast Asian markets, knowledge of local languages, a broad network in the market will be advantageous.
• This role will require travel to SEA markets.
   

Our Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement 
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Comprehensive dental, life and health insurance coverage
   

At Munich Re, we embrace, and value, the interaction of diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and thought. This interaction is our foundation. Of our open culture and spirit of partnership. Of how our teams are built and cultivated. Of how we are supported and developed. And at the center of this interaction is each of us.