General Manager - Underwriting & Reinsurance

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Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

The General Manager - Underwriting & Reinsurance, oversees the company's technical results. This will cut across Underwriting management, Reinsurance management, Customer service and general departmental operations.
The role sets and enforces underwriting strategy, pricing and risk appetite across all non-life classes, and designs and places a reinsurance programme that protects capital and earnings at an efficient cost. Oversee retention of the business and ensure renewal budget, specialty and facultative budget is achieved.
As an ExCo member, the role shapes company strategy and ensures profitable growth stays within the Board-approved risk appetite, Group technical standards, and the requirements of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) under the Insurance Act (Cap 487).

A. KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Task & Responsibilities

1. Strategy and executive leadership (15%).

• Contribute to company strategy as an ExCo member and translate it into a three-year underwriting and reinsurance plan.

• Define target portfolio mix by class, channel and segment, with growth and profitability targets for each.

• Lead the technical input into the annual business plan, budget and capital plan.

• Represent underwriting and reinsurance at Board committee meetings.

2. Underwriting management (25%).

• Set the underwriting policy, guidelines and risk appetite for every class, and keep them current.

• Oversee acceptance of large, complex and non-standard risks within delegated authority.

• Maintain a tiered authority framework for underwriters, brokers, agents and bancassurance partners, with regular audit of its use.

• Drive portfolio remediation: re-price, re-underwrite or exit loss-making segments and accounts.

• Ensure accurate risk surveys, risk engineering and loss-prevention support for commercial and corporate clients.

3. Pricing and portfolio performance (15%).

• Own technical pricing and rating models for all classes, working with Actuarial.

• Monitor loss ratios, combined ratios, rate adequacy and premium leakage monthly, and act on adverse trends.

• Work with Claims on claims-cost insight, reserving trends and fraud patterns that affect pricing.

• Approve new products and product changes, including filing with the IRA where required.

4. Reinsurance (25%).

• Design the annual reinsurance programme (treaty and facultative) to fit risk appetite, capital and Group guidelines.

• Lead renewal negotiations with brokers, reinsurers and Group reinsurance, and secure Board approval of the programme.

• Ensure compliance with statutory cessions and local-placement rules, and file treaty arrangements with the IRA on time.

• Manage reinsurer security: counterparty ratings, concentration limits and credit exposure.

• Oversee reinsurance accounting, bordereaux, recoveries and reconciliation with Finance, keeping reinsurance debtors within target.

• Model catastrophe and accumulation exposure (such as flood, political violence and aggregates) and buy protection to match.

5. Risk, compliance and governance (10%).

• Keep underwriting and reinsurance within IRA requirements, Group standards and internal policy.

• Support risk-based capital, IFRS 17 and ORSA processes with accurate technical data and assumptions.

• Maintain underwriting risk registers, controls and audit action plans, closing findings on time.

• Uphold Treating Customers Fairly, AML/CFT and sanctions screening in the underwriting process.

6. People and capability (10%).

• Lead, develop and retain a high-performing technical team, with clear succession for each key role.

• Build technical depth through professional qualifications (CII, IIK), training and structured delegated-authority growth.

• Champion data, automation and digital underwriting tools that improve speed, accuracy and customer experience.

• Champion Old Mutual’s purpose, values, and victory condition across the organization, shaping culture and behavior.

B. SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES.

• People management – manage staff and provide leadership to deliver results.

• Manages Complexity – Handle complex and demanding challenges.

• Builds Effective Teams - Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

• Ensures Accountability - Holding self and others accountable for meeting commitments.

• Business Insight - Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.

• Strategic Vision - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.

• Drives Results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

• Customer Focus - Provides cautious, timely and helpful service to encourage client loyalty.

• Engage & Inspire - Creating a climate in which people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.

• Cultivates Innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

• Develop Talent - Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.

• Technical capabilities. providing guidance and making informed decisions on complex and technical matters.

C. KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE.

• Good knowledge in all General insurance products.

• Good technical knowledge in underwriting and Reinsurance.

• Good communication skills.

• Current in political and social affairs.

• Computer literate.

• Diplomacy and tact.

• Honesty and Integrity.

• Good assessment and analytical skills.

• Ability to interact at all levels.

D. QUALIFICATIONSt.

• Bachelor degree.

• MBA degree (Added advantage).

• ACII.

• 10 years’ experience,5 in Top Management.

E. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML) EXPECTATION.
The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring adherence to, implementation of, and adoption of Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Sanctions-related policies, procedures, and process requirements within Old Mutual and its subsidiaries. This includes execution of customer due diligence processes, ensuring compliance with Know-Your-Customer (KYC) standards, conducting ongoing and enhanced due diligence, and maintaining data quality. Additionally, the role involves identifying and monitoring potential AML, Sanctions, or Compliance breaches and unusual activities and escalating these concerns to the Risk and Compliance Office for further action.

Skills

Building Trust, Change Management, Client Needs Assessments, Commercial Acumen, Consultative Selling, Customer Service, Customer Understanding, Customer Value Proposition Development, Direct Selling, Executing Plans, Identifying Sales Opportunities, Oral Communications, Sales Software, Strengthening Customer Relationships

Competencies

Builds Effective Teams

Builds Networks

Collaborates

Communicates Effectively

Customer Focus

Drives Results

Drives Vision and Purpose

Financial Acumen

Education

Bachelors Degree (B) (Required)

Closing Date

06 October 2026 , 23:59

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