People Moves: Prudential reshuffles regional leadership

PRUDENTIAL REJIGS APAC TEAMS

Prudential has appointed Naveed Irshad as CEO for Indonesia, the Philippines and Africa, effective October 26. In addition to his regional portfolio, he will take enterprise-wide responsibility for the health and product businesses, and join the group executive committee. Irshad joins from Manulife, where he served as global head of in-force management and president and CEO of Manulife Singapore. He has also held senior roles at RGA. 

Meanwhile, Chan San San, CEO of Prudential Singapore, has been appointed to the newly created role of chief partnership officer at the insurer's asset management arm, Eastspring Investments, effective September 28. Andreas Rosenthal, chief enterprise value delivery officer at Prudential Singapore, will step in as interim chief executive officer of the Singapore unit.

INCOME INSURANCE APPOINTS CEO

Singapore’s Income Insurance has appointed Khoo Kah Siang as CEO, effective January 23, 2027, subject to regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). He succeeds Andrew Yeo, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities after joining the company in 2015 and serving as CEO since 2019.

Khoo most recently served as CEO of emerging markets at Manulife Asia, overseeing operations across Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and Myanmar. His prior background includes executive roles at Great Eastern and regulatory experience with the MAS.

AUSTRALIAN ETHICAL CHAIR TO STEP DOWN

Australian Ethical chair Steve Gibbs has announced his retirement from the board at the end of the financial year, concluding a 14-year tenure with the company. His departure is part of an ongoing board renewal process, during which he will support an orderly transition to his successor. Gibbs will also retire from his roles at the Australian Ethical Foundation by March 30, 2027 and Australian Ethical Superannuation by December 31, 2027.

As part of its broader governance succession strategy, the firm has recently added Brian Bissaker and Karen Orvad to the board, with plans to appoint two further directors in the first half of 2027.

QBE INSURANCE MAKES A SENIOR PROMOTION

QBE Insurance has appointed Jonathan Groves as chief executive for Australia Pacific, effective November 1, subject to regulatory approvals. Groves has spent 13 years with the insurer and brings over three decades of industry experience spanning business leadership, underwriting, broking, risk and regulatory management.

Groves currently serves as CEO and managing director of QBE Pacific, where he has overseen operations across local markets, client segments and partner relationships.

IQ-EQ APPOINTS APAC AND MIDDLE EAST MD

IQ-EQ has promoted Anil Ponnampalam to managing director of fund platform and solutions for Apac and the Middle East following the rebrand of Gordian Capital. Ponnampalam assumes overall responsibility for the fund platform and solutions business across both private and public markets. Based in Singapore, he reports to Apac CEO Sridhar Nagarajan. 

Ponnampalam has been with the business for over a decade and previously served as director and head of business and investments for private markets across Apac and the Middle East. He succeeds Mark Voumard, who has stepped down as part of a planned leadership transition and will remain as senior advisor and board member for the region's fund management entities.