London, 14 April 2025 – Africa Specialty Risks (“ASR”), the developing markets-focused (re)insurance group, announces the appointment of Trevor Oates as head of reinsurance.
Trevor will be responsible for ceded reinsurance purchasing across the whole ASR group, which maintains underwriting balance sheets in Bermuda, Mauritius, and at Lloyd’s through Syndicate 2454.
He will also work closely with ASR’s multiple capacity partners, including leading Syndicates who support ASR through the Africa focused Baobab consortium at Lloyd’s.
Trevor joins from Canopius, where he spent 25 years in a range of underwriting roles, most recently as a treaty underwriter. While at the company he wrote a portfolio of property, construction, engineering, political violence and terrorism.
During this time, he was the leading underwriter of many reinsurance programmes across Africa, Middle East and emerging markets. He will be adding specialist knowledge and experience to ASR. Prior to Canopius, he spent seven years at Aon having begun his career in reinsurance at Mercantile and General Reinsurance Company in 1987.
Trevor will report to ASR CEO, Mikir Shah.
Mikir Shah commented: “
As our portfolio continues to expand, our reinsurance requirements have become more complex. We now write across multiple markets, including outside the African continent, and continue to expand our product lines.
“Trevor is hugely experienced reinsurance executive, who has deep experience across our core products and geographies, along with strong relationships with the reinsurance market. I’m delighted to welcome him to ASR and help further our ceded reinsurance programme.”
Trevor Oates added: “ASR is an exciting, dynamic and ambitious company. I have been actively involved in building insurance capacity in Africa for more than 35 years, so I am really looking forward to working with Mikir and the team.”
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Media Enquiries
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About ASR
Africa Specialty Risks (ASR) is enabling sustainable economic development by fulfilling unmet insurance needs. Our platform provides local underwriting expertise, an unparalleled distribution network and access to global capacity.
Founded in the heart of Africa and with offices across the continent and the Middle East, we provide regional market knowledge, data insights, and technical proficiency for capital partners who are looking to increase their presence in growth markets.
We also participate on each and every risk we underwrite with balance sheets in Bermuda, Mauritius and through Syndicate 2454 at Lloyd’s. ASR is committed to accelerating business growth by providing customised service and innovative insurance products to enable development.