SHA Risk Specialists appoint new Business Leader

Manisha Chiman

Following the recent appointment of former Business Leader, Gareth Beaver, as CEO of Santam Specialist Business, SHA Risk Specialists - a division of Santam - is pleased to announce the appointment of Manisha Chiman as Beaver’s successor. Effective 1 February, Chiman will fulfil the role of Business Leader at the specialist risk insurer.

Chiman enters the role with over a decade of experience in the short-term insurance industry, having kickstarted her career as a General Liability Underwriter in 2011 after completing a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree in Insurance and Risk Management from the University of Witwatersrand.

Since joining SHA in 2016, Chiman has progressed steadily through the ranks, holding numerous senior positions within several of the Underwriting divisions. Having entered the firm as a Liability Underwriter, she advanced into various leadership roles across the company’s many fields of specialisation. The most recent of which was her role as Business Head of Liability and PI Underwriting.

Congratulating Chiman on her appointment, Beaver refers to Chiman as the “intuitive choice” for the position of Business Leader as SHA gears up to fulfil its strategic objectives over the coming years.

“This year marks a seven-year milestone for Manisha at SHA. During this time, she has worked conscientiously at developing her skillset, understanding the nuances of different divisions within underwriting, and building a strong, professional, and supportive network of fellow industry leaders. Her appointment aligns with SHA’s growth horizons for the year ahead and with the backing of her dynamic team of established specialists, we are confident that she will bring new meaning to our long-standing commitment to enabling progress and securing tomorrow,” says Beaver.

As the largest niche casualty insurance provider on the African continent, SHA is synonymous with specialised products and services. Their stable of clients include the majority of the South African Financial Mail’s Top 100 companies, as well as a broad spectrum of medium to smaller enterprises both locally and abroad.

In her role as Business Leader, Chiman will lead the current team of Business Heads in the underwriting & claims space, supporting them in fulfilling SHA’s various strategies surrounding sustainable growth. She will also endeavor to see SHA expand its footprint and market share throughout the African continent in support of Santam’s Specialist Solution growth strategy over the coming years.

“As I step into this role, I do so with the firm belief that the principles upon which SHA has built its value proposition will continue to guide myself and the leadership team on our path to greater growth and expansion.

I remain committed to our brand promises: strength, relationships, solutions, longevity, simplicity, expertise, and consistency, and look forward to exploring new ways to provide an impactful suite of services to our clients, brokers, and industry stakeholders,” Chiman concludes.