General Manager – Underwriting & Reinsurance

Old Mutual Kenya

Old Mutual Kenya is based in Nairobi and is part of a larger group that offers solutions in long-term savings, asset management and investment. We offer solutions to individuals and corporates underpinned by our core values which are: Respect, Integrity, Accountability and Pushing beyond boundaries.

Sector
Business
Rate this employer
Average: 4 (2 votes)

General Manager – Underwriting & Reinsurance

Job Summary

  • The General Manager – Underwriting & Reinsurance, oversees the company’s technical results. This will cut across Underwriting management, Reinsurance management, Customer service and general departmental operations.
  • The role sets and enforces underwriting strategy, pricing and risk appetite across all non-life classes, and designs and places a reinsurance programme that protects capital and earnings at an efficient cost. Oversee retention of the business and ensure renewal budget, specialty and facultative budget is achieved.
  • As an ExCo member, the role shapes company strategy and ensures profitable growth stays within the Board-approved risk appetite, Group technical standards, and the requirements of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) under the Insurance Act (Cap 487).

Key Task & Responsibilities

Strategy and executive leadership (15%).

  • Contribute to company strategy as an ExCo member and translate it into a three-year underwriting and reinsurance plan.
  • Define target portfolio mix by class, channel and segment, with growth and profitability targets for each.
  • Lead the technical input into the annual business plan, budget and capital plan.
  • Represent underwriting and reinsurance at Board committee meetings. 

Underwriting management (25%)

  • Set the underwriting policy, guidelines and risk appetite for every class, and keep them current.
  • Oversee acceptance of large, complex and non-standard risks within delegated authority.
  • Maintain a tiered authority framework for underwriters, brokers, agents and bancassurance partners, with regular audit of its use.
  • Drive portfolio remediation: re-price, re-underwrite or exit loss-making segments and accounts.
  • Ensure accurate risk surveys, risk engineering and loss-prevention support for commercial and corporate clients.

Pricing and portfolio performance (15%)

  • Own technical pricing and rating models for all classes, working with Actuarial.
  • Monitor loss ratios, combined ratios, rate adequacy and premium leakage monthly, and act on adverse trends.
  • Work with Claims on claims-cost insight, reserving trends and fraud patterns that affect pricing.
  • Approve new products and product changes, including filing with the IRA where required.

Reinsurance (25%)

  • Design the annual reinsurance programme (treaty and facultative) to fit risk appetite, capital and Group guidelines.
  • Lead renewal negotiations with brokers, reinsurers and Group reinsurance, and secure Board approval of the programme.
  • Ensure compliance with statutory cessions and local-placement rules, and file treaty arrangements with the IRA on time.
  • Manage reinsurer security: counterparty ratings, concentration limits and credit exposure.
  • Oversee reinsurance accounting, bordereaux, recoveries and reconciliation with Finance, keeping reinsurance debtors within target.
  • Model catastrophe and accumulation exposure (such as flood, political violence and aggregates) and buy protection to match.

 Risk, compliance and governance (10%)

  • Keep underwriting and reinsurance within IRA requirements, Group standards and internal policy.
  • Support risk-based capital, IFRS 17 and ORSA processes with accurate technical data and assumptions.
  • Maintain underwriting risk registers, controls and audit action plans, closing findings on time.
  • Uphold Treating Customers Fairly, AML/CFT and sanctions screening in the underwriting process.

People and capability (10%)

  • Lead, develop and retain a high-performing technical team, with clear succession for each key role.
  • Build technical depth through professional qualifications (CII, IIK), training and structured delegated-authority growth.
  • Champion data, automation and digital underwriting tools that improve speed, accuracy and customer experience.
  • Champion Old Mutual’s purpose, values, and victory condition across the organization, shaping culture and behavior.

Skills & Competencies

  • People management – manage staff and provide leadership to deliver results.
  • Manages Complexity – Handle complex and demanding challenges.
  • Builds Effective Teams – Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
  • Ensures Accountability – Holding self and others accountable for meeting commitments.
  • Business Insight – Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
  • Strategic Vision – Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
  • Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
  • Customer Focus – Provides cautious, timely and helpful service to encourage client loyalty.
  • Engage & Inspire – Creating a climate in which people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
  • Cultivates Innovation – Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
  • Develop Talent – Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
  • Technical capabilities. providing guidance and making informed decisions on complex and technical matters.

Knowledge & Experience

  • Good knowledge in all General insurance products.
  • Good technical knowledge in underwriting and Reinsurance.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Current in political and social affairs.
  • Computer literate.
  • Diplomacy and tact.
  • Honesty and Integrity.
  • Good assessment and analytical skills.
  • Ability to interact at all levels.

 Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • MBA degree (Added advantage).
  • ACII.
  • 10 years’ experience,5 in Top Management.

Method of application

If you are interested and qualified, kindly submit your application via the link provided below,

https://oldmutual.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Old_Mutual_Careers/job/Nairobi/General-Manager---Underwriting---Reinsurance_JR-84136?utm_source=Jobinkenya

Deadline 06 October 2026 , 23:59

 

Click on the APPLY button to send your application documents:
  • Your application will be sent to the employer immediately (Allowed formats: .doc .pdf .txt .docx)
  • A confirmation email will be sent to you few minutes afterwards
  • You can request any documents archived from our website (ex: a job description, a CV, a cover letter...)