A new era for CIA

As the new year begins, so does a new era for CIA.

CIA bids a fond farewell to André de Waal, founder and Managing Director for the past 17 years, as he retires from the helm of the business.

An incredible leader with a very specific vision, Andre together with his business partners, Georgie Graham and Jannie de Wet built CIA into the leading building insurance specialist it is today by putting passion for client service at the heart of everything the company does. Highly regarded and admired by his staff, peers, clients and industry stakeholders, André’s contribution will leave an indelible mark on the insurance industry.

Filling the big shoes André has stepped out of is Douglas Haig - no stranger to UMAs. Douglas is a Chartered Accountant by profession, begins his journey with the vision of leading CIA into its next phase as a business, building on the foundations laid over the last 17 years.

Douglas hails from Lireas Holdings (Pty) Limited, a subsidiary company of Hannover Re, where his role included serving as a non-executive director for a number of UMA’s and assisting and supporting management in running these businesses. He has extensive business experience across a number of industries both in South Africa and abroad.

In his new role, Douglas hopes to further integrate the effective use of technology and data intelligence into the business, while ensuring that the core values of service excellence and innovative products remain firmly intact.

In words of farewell André says “After the most fulfilling and rewarding 17 years working with an incredible and passionate team of people, the time has arrived to leave the world of policy wordings, claims and premiums. I am very much looking forward to spending more time with my family and travelling through our beautiful country”

In acknowledgement of Andre’s role in building CIA to the business it is today, Valerie Hayter, MD of Lireas and a founding shareholder of CIA, and Paul Carragher, MD of Compass Insurance Company Limited and shareholder of CIA said: “Andre has left us with an amazing business and it is incumbent on those remaining to continue building on this success. We have every confidence that Douglas and the CIA team will do this.”