RGA UK Managing Director joins the Board of RGA South Africa
RGA Reinsurance Company of South Africa Limited, the only dedicated life reinsurer in South Africa, has announced that Perry Thomas, managing director of RGA UK, will join the Board of RGA South Africa, representing the shareholders and bringing greater international resources and support to Reinsurance Group of America's (RGA) local operations.
After joining RGA from Aon Re, Thomas helped set up the RGA offices in the United Kingdom in 1999 and has subsequently grown that operation into RGA's third-largest business unit. In 2006 Thomas joined RGAs International Executive Committee and now begins his role in overseeing the growth of the key strategic regions of South Africa and India, in line with RGAs future growth plans.
"We at RGA South Africa are looking forward to working more closely with Perry, who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to our team," says Conrad Backeberg, managing director, RGA South Africa. "Perry's main focus will be to help grow the business in South Africa and assist in utilising corporate resources, as well as managing the required reporting to RGA International."
"RGA entered the South African life reinsurance market in 1999, enabling RGA to expand its life reinsurance products and services to match the requirements of the South African market. This has resulted in significant growth in both market share and reputation in the region," comments Thomas. "The local operation has also spent the last few years building up a great team of professionals, who now offer an effective blend of local expertise to the South African reinsurance market and RGAs hands-on style of doing business."
"Following the commencement of my new role we look forward to strengthening RGA South Africa's relationships with the local insurance companies, most of whom we already have treaties in place with, and other financial institutions that offer life insurance products, by providing traditional life reinsurance services, as well as innovative reinsurance solutions," concludes Thomas.
