LIAM Re-Elects Anusha Thavarajah and Rangam Bir as President and Vice-President for the Term 2019/2020
Kuala Lumpur, 1 April 2019 – The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has re-elected Ms Anusha Thavarajah, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Bhd. as the President of the Association for the second consecutive year at its 45th Annual General Meeting held on 29 March 2019. LIAM also re-elected Mr Rangam Bir, Chief Executive Officer of Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad as its Vice-President for the term 2019/2020.
Anusha, who is also the Chairman of the Malaysian Insurance Institute was appointed to head AIA Bhd., a leading life insurer in Malaysia with total assets worth RM51 billion (as at 30 November 2017) and one of AIA Group’s top five markets, in June 2015. In addition to its three main business lines – Agency, Partnership Distribution and Corporate Solutions, Anusha is also responsible for AIA’s General Insurance, Pension and Asset Management, and Health Services units, as well as AIA PUBLIC Takaful Bhd, AIA’s jointly owned Takaful company with Public Bank Berhad and Public Islamic Bank Berhad.
Anusha’s career in insurance spans over 26 years and began in the United Kingdom. She returned to Malaysia in 2002 and held several leadership roles in AIA and ING, including as AIA’s Deputy General Manager of Operations, Finance and Actuarial where she played a key role in the successful integration of AIA and ING’s businesses in Malaysia. Prior to her CEO appointment, Anusha was Regional Business Development Director at AIA Group Limited, where she provided strategic leadership to AIA’s businesses in Southeast Asia.
Anusha graduated with First Class Honours in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Birmingham. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Rangam Bir, was appointed to the helm of Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad in December 2016. He is an established international business leader with over 22 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry.
Throughout his career, he has gained experience in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and established a successful track record of building winning businesses in fast growing emerging markets by leading large teams in multicultural and international business environments.
Prior to joining Gibraltar BSN, he was with the Allianz Group where he spent 19 years in various roles. Most recently, he was the CEO of Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad where he led the company through a digital transformation, establishing it as a leader in innovative digital business models and a top-five player in the Life and Health segment in Malaysia.
Previously, in Singapore he led the regional Life & Health Division as well as the regional Property & Casualty business of Allianz Asia Pacific as regional general manager.
Rangam Bir holds a Master of Management Studies in Finance and is an electronics engineer by training.
For the term 2019/2020, the Association will be supported by seven other members namely,
Mr Ramzi Toubassy - CEO of AmMetLife Insurance Berhad
Mr Paul Low Hong Ceong - CEO of Etiqa Life Insurance Berhad
YBhg Dato Koh Yaw Hui - CEO of Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad
Ms Loh Guat Lan - CEO of Hong Leong Assurance Berhad
Mr Gan Leong Hin - CEO of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad
Mr Raymond Lew Yung Chow - CEO of Sun Life Malaysia Assurance Berhad
Mr Toi See Jong - CEO of Tokio Marine Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd
LIAM continues to work very closely with the regulatory authorities and stakeholders in embarking on various educational and consumer awareness programmes in promoting and developing a progressive life insurance industry and to fulfil our aspirations in narrowing the protection gap, increasing the penetration rate and achieving the financial inclusion agenda.
