Between The Lines

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Hassan Omaish, CEO at Allianz Trade for Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. Hassan discusses rising insolvencies, disruptions to global trade and rising economic volatility. 

Other topics include the fire at the Hong Kong housing estate, nat cats in Australia, floods in Southeast Asia, and M&A.

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InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Rebekah Khew, the Asia Pacific director at Vivace Insurance Partners. Rebekah discusses the MGA landscape in the region, and opportunities and challenges for the emerging sector in Asia.

Other topics include the fire at the Hong Kong housing estate, John Neal, nat cats in Australia, Mapfre Re, and a new reinsurer in Vietnam.

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InsuranceAsia News deputy editor Andrew Mullen is joined by editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory and reporter Joana Nguyen to review the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC).

The team gives their personal highlights from the three-day event at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, plus delve deep into the main talking points and key takeaways from the 21st edition of the key event on the reinsurance calendar.

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InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Rama Chandran, Singapore-based managing director and head of marine for Rokstone Underwriting. Rama, a seasoned marine underwriter, discusses the state of the marine market, challenges and opportunities, as well as Rokstone’s ambitions in the region.

Other topics include updates from InsuranceAsia News’ cyber conference, nat cat losses from around Asia, including the Philippines earthquake, Marsh’s rebranding, update on Greensill litigation, broker M&A down under and Markel’s greater China ambitions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory and reporter Joana Nguyen discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Stephen Wares, head of underwriting, international, Coalition, who discusses the state of the cyber market and the specialist MGA's growth ambitions.

Other topics include a round-up of the nat cat events in the past two weeks, Japan’s offshore wind market taking flight, DB’s acquisition of US carrier Fortegra, the big Lloyd’s Asia exit, Mapfre’s APAC expansion plans and more.

Links:

Vietnam’s 2025 nat cat economic losses top US$1.3bn

ARPC in ‘strong financial position’ despite ‘large scale’ impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Chris Mackinnon to leave Lloyd’s in 2026 to pursue new opportunities

Mapfre Re targets billion-euro Asian GWP milestone: Javier Sánchez Cea

DB Insurance clinches US$1.65bn deal for US specialty carrier Fortegra

Japanese offshore wind a ‘big opportunity’ for (re)insurers: Tokio Marine

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporter Joana Nguyen, and intern Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Will Hiller, underwriter Tokio Marine GX, who discusses the TMGX proposition, broader renewable energy market and challenges in covering the Australian market.

Other topics include updates from Typhoon Ragasa, emerging risk of Gen Z riots and SRCC events, Everest’s new GIFT City branch, Australia’s plans for a flood pool, Hong Kong’s marine risk pool proposal, the flux in the W&I market, APAC’s nascent ILS boom and Chinese newfound interest in the convertible bonds market.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deputy editor Andrew Mullen is joined by editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporter Joana Nguyen, and intern Roshan Nambiar to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Wei Wang, the chief executive at Rare Earth Insurance Partners, who shares his insights into the Chinese insurance market and what is next for the broker.

Other topics include updates from two major conferences in Singapore and Monte Carlo, the protests in Indonesia, Lloyd's results, and M&A, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey is joined in the newsroom by deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and reporter Joana Nguyen to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Lars Lange, the secretary general of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), looking ahead to its annual conference in Singapore next month.

Other topics include updates on Sompo's purchase of Aspen, Willis' expansion in Japan, and a new Japanese regulator, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on.

Links:

https://insuranceasianews.com/sompo-to-acquire-aspen-for-us3-5bn/

https://insuranceasianews.com/help-wanted-what-spurred-willis-to-supercharge-its-japan-team-in-2025-with-key-hires/

https://insuranceasianews.com/japan-to-create-new-insurance-regulator-to-strengthen-oversight/

https://insuranceasianews.com/where-theres-smoke-theres-fire-as-enhanced-ev-risks-rise-insurers-urged-to-find-viable-solutions-with-demand-set-to-grow/

https://insuranceasianews.com/insurer-warns-of-jumbo-problems-amid-bulk-cargo-concerns-at-asian-ports/

https://insuranceasianews.com/crawford-eyes-india-china-potential-amid-regional-consolidation-drive-scott-reichelt/

https://insuranceasianews.com/hanoi-flooding-from-typhoon-kajiki-expected-to-result-in-limited-commercial-claims/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey is joined in the newsroom by deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and intern Roshan Nambiar to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Fion Ko, associate director for fine art and specie at Willis, focusing on trends in the regional fine art and specie market, and how nat cats and sustainability trends are transforming the industry.

Other topics include updates on Hong Kong’s black rainstorm as well as floods in North Asia, Hong Kong's captive push, lawsuit over container ship that sank off Indian coast, broker moves and M&A, Australia's "hard-line" merger control rules, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on.

Want to know more about the stories we discussed?

https://insuranceasianews.com/losses-from-hong-kongs-record-breaking-rainfall-less-widespread-than-2023-black-rainstorm-sedgwick/

Losses from Hong Kong’s record-breaking rainfall less widespread than 2023 black rainstorm: Sedgwick

https://insuranceasianews.com/heavy-rain-floods-landslides-leave-insurers-counting-losses-across-hong-kong-china-india/

Heavy rain, floods, landslides leave insurers counting losses across Hong Kong, China, India

https://insuranceasianews.com/hong-kong-goes-up-the-gears-hands-chinese-carmaker-saic-regulatory-approval-for-captive/

Hong Kong goes up the gears, hands Chinese carmaker SAIC regulatory approval for captiv

https://insuranceasianews.com/msc-elsa-3-owner-seeks-to-cap-liability-as-indian-state-government-files-us1bn-suit/

MSC Elsa 3 owner seeks to cap liability as Indian state government files US$1bn suit

https://insuranceasianews.com/bridge-specialty-reshuffles-asia-leadership-with-david-ong-elevated-to-acorn-chairman/

Bridge Specialty reshuffles Asia leadership with David Ong elevated to Acorn chairman

https://insuranceasianews.com/gallagher-acquires-new-zealands-insure-taranaki/

Gallagher acquires New Zealand’s Insure Taranaki

https://insuranceasianews.com/australias-new-hard-line-ma-rules-snag-small-mid-cap-insurers-amid-overreach-warning/

Australia’s new ‘hard line’ M&A rules snag small, mid-cap insurers amid overreach warning

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey is joined in the newsroom by deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporter Joana Nguyen and intern Roshan Nambiar to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.

This episode features a special interview with Martin Au-Yeung, vice president and client service manager for North Asia at FM, focusing merging risks and supply chain disruptions, plus FM's strategy for the region.

Other topics include deadly floods in Beijing, a H1 cat loss review, a new chairman for India's regulator, M&A, asset-intensive reinsurance and reforms in Australia, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on.

Want to know more about the stories we discussed?

https://insuranceasianews.com/30-dead-in-beijing-after-days-of-torrentail-rain-80000-residents-relocated/

30 dead in Beijing after days of torrential rain, 80,000 residents relocated

https://insuranceasianews.com/asia-insurance-rates-drops-5-in-q2-2025-sixth-straight-quarter-of-decline-marsh/

Asia insurance rates drop 5% in Q2 2025, sixth straight quarter of decline: Marsh

https://insuranceasianews.com/india-appoints-as-ajay-seth-as-irdai-chairman/

India appoints former finance secretary Ajay Seth as IRDAI chairman

https://insuranceasianews.com/asias-asset-intensive-reinsurance-outlook-remains-bullish-gallagher-res-jeffrey-seow/

Asia’s asset-intensive reinsurance outlook remains ‘bullish’: Gallagher Re’s Jeffrey Seow

https://insuranceasianews.com/opportunity-knocks-for-australia-as-regulator-keeps-reinsurance-market-waiting-over-proposed-major-reforms/ 

Opportunity knocks for Australia as regulator keeps (re)insurance market waiting over proposed major reforms

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