Indian Insurance Brokers Association Names New President
The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has elected Ben Ng, CEO of AIA Bhd, as its new president following the organization’s 51st Annual General Meeting held on March 26.
Vibha Coburn, the CEO of Manulife Insurance Berhad, was appointed vice president for the upcoming term.
Leadership Transition at LIAM
Ng succeeds Raymond Lew, who had served as president and vice president of LIAM for over five years. Ng, with more than three decades of experience in the life insurance industry, including 22 years in international roles, brings a wealth of expertise to the position. He is one of the few professionals in Asia to hold dual fellowships from the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS). Since assuming the role of CEO at AIA Bhd in 2019, Ng has overseen the company’s operations across insurance, takaful, and private retirement schemes in Malaysia.
Coburn, with over 30 years of experience in banking, insurance, and consulting, joined Manulife in 2020. She holds dual roles as CEO of both Manulife Holdings Berhad and Manulife Insurance Berhad. Previously, Coburn led distribution growth and agency development across Manulife’s Asian operations as chief regional distribution officer.
New Appointments to LIAM’s Management Committee
In addition to the presidential change, LIAM confirmed two new members to its management committee for the 2025/2026 term: Leong Su Yern, CEO of Etiqa Life Insurance Berhad, and Pauline Teoh, CEO of Zurich Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad.
Other continuing members of the management committee include:
- Dato Koh Yaw Hui, Great Eastern Life Assurance
- Loh Guat Lan, Hong Leong Assurance
- Patrick Cheah Gim Guan, Malaysian Life Reinsurance Group
- Lim Eng Seong, Prudential Assurance Malaysia
- Toi See Jong, Tokio Marine Life Insurance Malaysia
Focus on Financial Literacy and Inclusive Growth
Mark O’Dell, LIAM’s CEO, emphasized the association’s commitment to improving insurance literacy and accessibility. “We are focused on engaging the public through various platforms, offering targeted education and awareness initiatives to enhance financial literacy and the well-being of Malaysians,” he said. He also highlighted the association’s collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders to expand insurance coverage and foster inclusive growth.
These leadership transitions come as Malaysia’s life insurance sector is poised for continued growth, supported by favorable economic and demographic trends. A report from GlobalData projects a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% for the sector through 2028, with direct written premiums expected to reach MYR77.3 billion (US$17.2 billion).
New Leadership for Insurance Brokers Association of India
Meanwhile, in India, the Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI) has appointed Narendra Kumar Bharindwal as its new president. With over 20 years of experience in insurance broking and regulatory advisory, Bharindwal is set to lead IBAI through a period of transformation, driven by technological advancements and shifting customer expectations.
Bharindwal stated that his leadership will focus on advocating for policies that benefit brokers and raising public awareness about the importance of insurance.
The IBAI also announced its new board members, including Mohan Sriraman and Surender Kumar Tonk as vice presidents, Nirmal Bazaz as honorary secretary, and Ashok Kumar Jain as honorary treasurer. These appointments follow the completion of Sumit Bohra’s term as president.
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