QBE Re names Soichiro Tanaka Head of Southeast Asia

QBE Re has appointed Soichiro Tanaka as Head of Southeast Asia, a new senior role created as the reinsurer expands its regional structure from Singapore.

Tanaka will lead underwriting strategy for Southeast Asia, oversee portfolio management, and assess growth opportunities across the sub-region.

Based in Singapore, he will report to Cindy Foo, Head of Asia, Treaty, who joined the business in December 2025. In January, QBE Re also appointed Sven Liu as Head of Greater China as part of a broader build-out of its Asia leadership team.

Tanaka joins from Aspen, where he was a Senior Underwriter in Singapore, supporting growth across property, casualty, and specialty lines.

He brings 13 years of insurance and reinsurance experience across Asia. His appointment adds a dedicated Southeast Asia leader as reinsurers adjust regional portfolios in response to shifting risk profiles and competitive pressures.

Regional focus

QBE Re is the reinsurance division of QBE Insurance Group, which operates across multiple markets and writes business for corporate and institutional clients, alongside other segments.

In reinsurance, underwriting leadership roles often combine market-facing responsibilities with internal portfolio oversight. These posts can influence how a reinsurer allocates capacity, sets terms and conditions, and balances exposure by geography and line of business.

By creating a standalone Southeast Asia lead role, QBE Re signals a focus on clearer accountability in a region that includes some of the world's most active catastrophe and specialty risk markets. Singapore remains the main hub for many international insurers and reinsurers managing Southeast Asian treaties and facultative placements.

Tanaka's background spans multiple lines. That breadth may be particularly relevant in Southeast Asia, where cedants often seek programmes covering a mix of property catastrophe exposure, liability, and specialty risks. Many buyers also review structures more frequently as pricing, capacity, and retentions change.

Leadership changes

The new reporting line places Southeast Asia alongside other sub-regional leadership posts under the Asia treaty function. Treaty reinsurance covers portfolio-level risk transfer and typically involves annual renewals and long-term relationships with insurers.

Foo leads treaty business across the region, while Liu provides senior oversight for Greater China. Tanaka's role creates a comparable focal point for Southeast Asia.

QBE said the appointments reflect an expansion of its footprint in Asia and highlighted its broader underwriting and risk management approach across markets.

QBE is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. It reported gross written premium of USD $24.0 billion for the year ended 31 December 2025. Standard & Poor's has rated the group AA-.

Foo said the hire is part of a wider regional push.

"We are delighted to welcome Soichiro to the role as we continue to grow our Asia portfolio. I am confident his strong technical expertise and breadth of multi-line experience in Southeast Asia will be an asset to QBE Re," said Cindy Foo, Head of Asia, Treaty, QBE Re.

Tanaka will assume responsibility for underwriting strategy for Southeast Asia from Singapore, under Foo's leadership.