Africa Specialty Risks (ASR), a reinsurance group focused on developing markets, has announced the appointment of Laxmeekant Walikar as Chief Officer and Managing Director (MD), India.
In his new role, Walikar will facilitate ASR’s entry into the Indian market through GIFT City in Gujarat, culminating in the establishment of ASR’s Lloyd’s Services Company for Syndicate 2454.
He will work closely with Amit Khilosia, ASR’s Chief Distribution Officer. Walikar will be responsible for sourcing and developing business across India, establishing broker and cedant relationships, identifying strategic partnerships, strengthening the company’s local presence and talent base, and advancing ASR’s operations under the GIFT City framework established by the Government of India in 2015.
Walikar has over two decades of industry experience in global markets including India, MENA and Asia Pacific.
Prior to joining ASR, he served as Managing Director, Indian Subcontinent, at Volante Global, where he was responsible for establishing Volante Syndicate 1699 in India.
Prior to this, Walikar served as Chief Underwriting Officer of AXA XL. He also served as Head of Treaty Underwriting at Emirates Insurance Company, where he was responsible for developing and underwriting Afro-Asian treaty business in Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, the CIS/former Soviet Union, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Earlier in his career, he held senior reinsurance underwriting roles at Swiss Re, Saudi Re and Al Fajer Re.