Ageas UK makes two significant Executive Team appointments as Ageas Group draws on UK expertise
Rashmi Rao has been appointed as Ageas UK’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Stephen Linklater appointed as Claims Director from the beginning of the year.
Rashmi joins Ageas following a career spanning over 25 years in technology, digital transformation, IT and business strategy across countries and regulated industries including Insurance, Banking, Healthcare, and Consulting.
Rashmi has held several senior technology leadership roles in Insurance including Bupa, XL Insurance, Ace Insurance and has advised Fortune 500 and FTSE 250 organisations as a consultant with McKinsey and Andersen.
As CIO of Ageas UK, Rashmi will take a leading role in the delivery of the Ageas UK replatforming programme, working with EIS and EY as the appointed suppliers to power a step-change for Ageas in becoming digital to its core. The programme will deliver a platform that will enable Ageas to operate in a fast, simple, and agile way, ultimately fuelling its standout capabilities in underwriting, pricing, claims and fraud management, as well as excellence in data and analytics.
Stephen Linklater joined Ageas in 2008 as Head of Household Underwriting and has held various senior Pricing and Underwriting roles across both the Broker and Direct channels. More recently Stephen was appointed to the UK Executive Team as Managing Director for the Commercial Business Unit, responsible for the sale of Ageas’ Commercial Lines business, while maximising the value of Ageas’s non electronically-traded business. Before joining Ageas Stephen held roles at RSA and Hastings.
As part of Ageas’s Executive Team, Rashmi and Stephen will contribute to the leadership and decision-making of the wider UK business as it focuses on growing in its core personal lines markets.
Ant Middle, Ageas UK CEO said: “These appointments bring significant expertise and a fresh perspective to Ageas as we continue to transform our UK business. Both Rashmi and Stephen’s proven leadership abilities and reputation for delivery of transformative programmes make them very strong additions to our team.”
Commenting on her appointment, Rashmi said: “I am delighted to join Ageas at this pivotal time in its journey to lead the digital transformation. I have been very impressed by the organisation’s customer focus; strong commitment to the results-driven business strategy; and the quality and calibre of the Ageas team. I look forward to working with the team to deliver on its ambitious transformation and growth agenda.”
Both appointments are subject to the usual regulatory approvals.
Ageas Group draws on UK expertise
Rashmi replaces Mark Collins, who was appointed to the business in 2018 and has been responsible for successfully evolving the IT and data infrastructure at Ageas, while also leading data infrastructure programmes across the Ageas Group.
Stephen replaces Robin Challand, who has been with the business since 1989 holding a diverse range operational and customer focused roles, including driving the Claims and IT strategies, as well as successfully managing the integration of the Groupama acquisition in 2013.
With a focus on growing its people internally, both Mark and Robin have accepted new positions within Ageas Group supporting the Group’s Impact24 Strategy and drawing on the significant expertise within the UK market.