Bernie Ray
Gary Corke
Former Emerald CEO Corke takes on Stalker Hutchison Admiral; Ray promoted to Emerald CEO
Santam, South Africa’s leading short-term insurer, has announced two new appointments in their Specialist Business division, aimed at driving further growth.
Gary Corke, former CEO of Emerald, provider of property insurance solutions for large industrial and commercial businesses, is taking on the role of CEO of specialist underwriter Stalker Hutchison Admiral (SHA) following the retirement of Basil Palmer. SHA has grown to become the largest specialist underwriting agency in South Africa focused on broad-form liability insurance.
SHA is the market leader when it comes to crime and civil liability coverage of financial institutions as well as directors and officers and commercial crime for all other entities. SHA was the first company in South Africa to offer bankers blanket bond-type policies and have over 20 years' experience on which to model its underwriting philosophy.
While leading Emerald, Corke has led his team to drive new underwriting proficiency and build a leading business in the corporate property space. Emerald is currently the largest Corporate Property Underwriter in South Africa, and underwrites business throughout the African Continent.
Bernie Ray, previously managing director of Emerald will step into the role of CEO of Emerald. As the managing director of Emerald since July 2009, Ray has been instrumental in its success working alongside Corke.
“Basil did a fantastic job leading SHA and will be missed. But SHA will remain in terrific hands under Gary. We congratulate Gary and Bernie and wish them well with their new roles. The growth and results at Emerald over the past three years are a testament to both men’s energy and vision. They have transformed Santam’s capability in this market segment,” says Quinten Matthew, Executive Head of Specialist Business at Santam.
Both appointments will come into effect as of 01 March 2013.
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