QBE names Stephen Geisler CEO South Asia & Ross Bethell partnerships head

QBE has announced the appointment of Stephen Geisler as Chief Executive Officer of South Asia and Ross Bethell as Head of Partnerships for its Asia business.

Both Stephen Geisler and Ross Bethell will be based in Singapore and will report directly to Rob Kosova, CEO of QBE Asia.

Leadership roles

Stephen Geisler will commence his role as CEO of South Asia on 23 September. In this position, he will directly lead QBE Singapore and provide oversight for QBE Malaysia. Geisler is set to succeed Ronak Shah, who currently serves as CEO of QBE Singapore and was recently appointed CEO of Wholesale Markets Asia.

Geisler brings notable experience to the post, having been with the firm for over 35 years. During this time, he has worked across multiple functions and has gained extensive expertise in global and Asian markets underwriting. His remit as CEO of South Asia will include business strategy responsibilities, leadership of local underwriting teams, and a focus on sustainable growth across the company's operations in Singapore and Malaysia.

Broker partnerships

Effective 1 September, Ross Bethell will assume the position of Head of Partnerships. In this capacity, Bethell will lead the strategic direction and management of QBE Asia's international broker channels. He will also work to build and maintain strong relationships with partners in key strategic markets, in addition to collaborating closely with local broker teams to encourage regional growth.

Bethell brings over twenty years of sector experience, including leadership roles that have emphasised client relationship management. Before joining QBE, he served as Chief Client Officer of South Asia at Marsh.

Executive perspective

Rob Kosova, CEO of QBE Asia, commented on the appointments:

"We are delighted and privileged to have both Stephen and Ross join us at this crucial time, when the Asia business is seeing a positive transformation as we consolidate our efforts in the wholesale markets and drive further business growth across our entire Asia business. Both bring with them dedication, passion and important experience across the insurance and reinsurance spectrum – and I look forward to them contributing to our continued efforts in the region."

QBE stated that the new leadership appointments are reflective of the company's continued consolidation and efforts for growth within the Asia region, both in wholesale markets and across its broader business interests.

Company context

QBE Asia is part of the International Division of QBE Insurance Group. The business operates out of its headquarters in Sydney and is listed on the Australia Securities Exchange. The organisation has been expanding its operations and executive leadership to support ongoing business transformation internationally and within Asia.