New head of personal lines underwriting at Santam

Santam, the country’s largest short-term insurer, has announced the appointment of Christelle Fourie (pictured right) as Head of Personal Lines Underwriting, with effect from 1 May 2008.

Christelle has most recently served as a Member of the Executive Committee of MUA Insurance Company and National Manager of its Property Insurance/Marketing division – a division she was responsible for establishing upon joining the company in 2006. Prior to that date she served for a period of eight years as Managing Director and shareholder of Thatch Risk Acceptances - widely regarded as the leader in thatch underwriting in the South African market.

Her early experience was gained at Santam as a junior personal lines claims and underwriting clerk and subsequently at the then Price Forbes, also in the personal lines environment.

Her primary responsibility in her new portfolio at Santam will be to contribute to personal lines strategy development and implementation, with the objective to differentiate Santam in the market in terms of client centric solutions.

Of her appointment, Christelle says: “I am very excited about joining the Santam team, particularly given the company’s phenomenal success in the short-term insurance industry. This appointed represents the fulfilment of a career goal for me.”