Singapore
Insurance Leader with close to two decades of industry and consulting experience in Life, Health, General and Group Insurance, who is deeply passionate about building success stories with industry partners through leading in the “new” across multiple Business domains and Digital themes. In my career, I have had the privilege of working alongside multinational and local insurance companies and professionals on their transformation and growth journeys across key Asian markets including Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. I am active in generating insurance-focused content through media interviews, whitepapers, blogs, podcasts and talks. Published Work: • “Perspectives on Sustainability and Talent in Insurance” (General Insurance Association of Singapore AGM Luncheon, March 2024) • “Digital trends and data in insurance with Elysia Chan” (https://preview.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/insurance/women-in-insurance-leading-voices-on-trends-affecting-insurers/digital-trends-and-data-in-insurance-with-elysia-chan, McKinsey & Company, March 2023) • “Insurance for the New Possible, A Chubb Conversation” (https://insuranceforthenewpossible.com/ep-04-moving-from-transactional-to-experiential, January 2023) • “There’s a ‘strong optimism’ for Insurance in APAC region” (https://hubs.ly/Q01nLdF00, Insurance Business Asia, October 2022) • “Reaching Towards the Future of Underwriting” (https://hubs.ly/Q01lrmFW0, Insurance Business Asia, September 2022) • “The ESG Opportunity in Insurance” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIeXiS0NB7Y, November 2021) • “Sustainable Finance – Insurance Brief” (https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/PDF-167/Accenture-Sustainable-Finance-Insurance-Brief.pdf#zoom=50, November 2021) • “Open for Business: What SGFinDex means for the financial services sector and Singapore residents” (https://www.accenture.com/sg-en/blogs/future-cities/open-for-business-what-sgfindex-means-for-the-financial-services-sector-and-singapore-residents, September 2021) • “Digital Business Accelerated” (https://www.chubb.com/sg-en/campaign/digital-business-accelerated.html, May & October 2021) • “Insurance in APAC: Navigating the New” (https://insuranceblog.accenture.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Accenture-Navigating-New-Insurance-Asia-Pacific.pdf, September 2020) • “A Leap Forward for InsurTech Amidst Disruption” (Asia Insurance Review, June 2020) • “Shattering the Glass Ceiling” (Asia Insurance Review, March 2020)
I build success stories with insurers in Asia by designing and delivering strategic and transformation initiatives across diverse topics - Distribution Transformation, Industry Convergence, Target Operating Model Design, Business & Process Optimization, and Technology Modernization. Prior to McKinsey Asia, I had established and led the Accenture Southeast Asia Insurance Practice, managing its portfolio of Insurance clients and Consulting professionals in the region. I had most recently managed the design and implementation of a national-level “Open Insurance” initiative involving seven of the largest Life Insurers in Singapore – in collaboration with the major banks, Stock Exchange, and Government Agencies in the country – to raise the level of financial literacy amongst Singapore Citizens and Residents.
I lead Accenture Southeast Asia's Insurance practice which seeks to rotate Insurers to the “new” across multiple Business domains, and Technology topics. • Managed the Bancassurance integration of a large Asian bank and a leading US Property & Casualty Insurance carrier, covering the Accident & Health, Personal, and Commercial Lines businesses across five Asian markets • Led the research and development of a Go-to-Market Strategy for a Global Life Insurer which is targeted at delivering innovation to the Enterprise / Corporate Customer segment in Singapore • Redefined target operating model for a Singapore-based Global General Insurer, to drive profitable growth • Designed multi-year strategy to unlock cost and revenue opportunities for a Regional Health Insurer in Southeast Asia • Advised a leading Singapore Composite Insurer on its technology modernization strategy, as well as the conceptualization and delivery of a Big Data Platform initiative for the enterprise • Advised a leading US Property & Casualty Carrier on the launch of a series of digital Insurance products across Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia • Led the design of an industry utility model for a leading European Insurer, with the strategic aim of unlocking trapped value and economies of scale for capacity-building and expansion • Developed regional digital strategy for a large Japanese Carrier seeking to expand its B2B2C presence in Southeast Asia • Designed digital operating model for a Malaysian Life Insurer, to grow customer share-of-wallet • Advised a leading Singapore Life Insurer in defining, and executing on, its customer, channel and brand proposition • Managed the design and implementation of a national-level “Open Insurance” initiative involving seven of the largest Life Insurers in Singapore – in collaboration with the major banks, Stock Exchange, and Government Agencies in the country – to raise the level of financial literacy amongst Singapore Citizens and Residents
• Led a team of consultants and client subject matter experts in the functional design and Agile implementation of an online Sales and Marketing Automation Platform for a leading Singaporean Insurer [August 2016 - May 2017] • Implemented key transformational Technology & Operations initiatives for the Malaysian operations of a large American Life Insurer [August - December 2016] • Assessed the maturity of the Technology Applications and Infrastructure landscape for a leading UK Insurance Broker in Singapore [June - July 2016] • Developed Target Operating Models (TOM) for a large American Insurer seeking to transform its business digitally, and a major Chinese Insurer in the subsidiarization of its branch operations in Singapore [February - May 2016] • Advised a large Japanese P&C Player in Singapore on the design, and vendor selection for the implementation, of a new Document Management System [January - February 2016] • Led a team of consultants, software vendors and system implementers on the conceptualization, design, build and marketing of a proprietary solution (accelerator) for the Group Insurance industry in ASEAN [August 2015 - May 2017] • Advised a Global Client on a Technology Due Diligence exercise pertaining to the potential acquisition of a European life insurance company in Singapore. [August - October 2015] • Led a series of business process optimization exercises for SME-clients in the Insurance, Wellness and Healthcare spaces, to position them for growth in Singapore and expansion into other key Southeast Asian markets. [July - October 2015]
Professional Accomplishments [Continued]: • Led a cross-practice team of consultants, client subject matter business resources and technology vendors in the impact assessment, and implementation, of new enterprise-wide processes and systems to ensure Goods and Services Tax (GST) readiness and compliance for a large Malaysian Motor Insurer. [October 2014 - April 2015] • Advised a global General Insurer on the migration, and integration, of newly-acquired blocks of Property & Casualty, and Health lines of businesses into its existing retail and commercial portfolios in Hong Kong, including the design, alignment, and testing of new enterprise-wide processes to support the change. [August - October 2014]
Professional Accomplishments: • Led a team comprising consultants and client subject matter business and technology resources in implementing a market-leading E-Business platform for a major Property & Casualty Insurer in Singapore. [January - May 2014] • Supported a leading Swiss Bank in its global initiative to enable the booking of IB trades in APAC, and another in the development of an E-Business proposition to drive both top and bottomline performance for its PB business in the region. [July 2013 - February 2014] • Advised a large Thai Composite Insurer on the modernization of the policy administration systems for its life and non-life businesses. [May - September 2013] • Managed a cross-border team in supporting a European Health Insurer and Healthcare Provider to develop a compelling market positioning and robust Target Operating Model for entry into Indonesia. [March - May 2013] • Led a team of consultants on a project to identify and address systemic control issues, claims leakages, and process inefficiencies within the Health portfolio of a multinational Composite Insurer in Singapore, through the combination of interviews, closed file reviews, data analytics, actuarial and fraud investigation techniques. [January - March 2013] • Led an inter-practice team towards the successful delivery of an organization-wide end-to-end process review of the property fund business of an established Thai Asset Management client. [December 2012 - January 2013] • Project-managed a team of Actuarial consultants on valuation due diligence work pertaining to the sale of a multinational life and takaful insurance company in Malaysia for a buy-side client (and eventual successful bidder). [October - November 2012] • Advised a global General Insurance client on strategies to increase its bancassurance footprint in key Southeast Asian markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. [August - October 2012]
Execute and impart programme/project management methodology and discipline in the areas of: a) scope management – schedule, quality and cost; b) resource planning; c) stakeholder communication; d) risk and issues management; and e) change management. Align programme/project scope with strategic business objectives to optimize efficiency, and make recommendations to modify programmes/projects to enhance their effectiveness towards the realization of business results and/or strategic intent. Professional Accomplishments: • Managed cross-functional teams on a multi-million dollar regional Operations & Technology initiative to rationalize the number of core application systems and interfaces, towards the centralization of insurance product and customer data onto more cost-efficient and technically-superior policy administration platforms. • Reporting directly to the Chief Administration Officer, led 12-member Operations and Technology workstreams in a 7-month cross-functional regional project in 2011, ensuring the successful completion of key deliverables directed towards strategic business objectives. Built credibility, established rapport and maintained communication with stakeholders at multiple levels for maximum results. • Responsible for a series of Operations-focused programmes under the Office of the Chief Administration Officer in 2011, including the a) implementation and control of improvement measures to move the organization towards an efficient shared services model with key vendors, and b) establishment of a framework to plan, coordinate and control the completion of key operational enhancements for the company. • Led a 10-member project team in 2010 on the a) planning and delivery of a S$2.2 million project to grow a new distribution channel within the company; b) development of channel-related people and infrastructure capabilities, and c) execution of strategies to meet the organization’s growth targets for the channel.
The AIA Management Associates Programme is a two-year programme designed to immerse individuals into the AIA culture, preparing them for a leadership position in the organization. Professional Accomplishments: • Managed an annual portfolio of S$80 million comprising more than 6,000 Corporate Insurance accounts in 2009. Key responsibilities included managing a team of account managers, ensuring revenue and service level targets are met, growing the current business through increasing persistency, and upselling the company’s product and services offerings to a growing base of corporate customers. • Implemented change initiatives for the Corporate Solutions Department in 2009, including putting in place systems and standard operating procedures to improve the overall workflow of its Client Relations Unit and to bring in line the unit’s processes with that of the organization’s strategic direction. • Spearheaded the conception, design, active communication and successful implementation of a managed healthcare insurance programme to a portfolio of 100,000 Corporate Insurance customers in 2008. • Achieved a total sales performance of S$1.5 million in 2008, exceeding the target set by more than 50%, through the effective positioning and marketing of the company’s suite of Insurance solutions to potential business partners and corporate clients. • Successfully enrolled 4,000 corporate users for the company's web portal and electronic claims settlement notification services through an effective 3-month roadshow to key Corporate Insurance accounts in 2008.