Howden appoints Atinc Yilmaz as regional ceo for TMEA

Howden, part of Hyperion Insurance Group, is delighted to announce that Atinc Yilmaz joins its international broking business as Regional CEO for Turkey, the Middle East and Africa.  

Yilmaz will lead the region and drive a growth and investment push for Howden as it seeks to build its presence in the region’s high-growth markets, working alongside the leaders of each business to identify and maximise new opportunities.

Howden’s operations in the region include Howden UAE, a leading broker in the local Property, Liability, Employee Benefits, Marine, Trade Credit and Reinsurance markets with offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; Turkish facultative reinsurance provider, GRC Howden; and specialist Turkish Industrial Property, Liability and Power broker, Howden Sigorta.

David Howden, CEO of Howden and parent company Hyperion, commented:  “We have a significant opportunity to leverage the strengths of our existing specialist businesses and grow our presence in the region’s exciting, high-growth markets.  Atinc’s leadership skills combined with his international experience and local market knowledge mean he is ideally placed to work with the CEO’s of our established businesses to drive our growth plans in our existing markets, as well as seeking opportunities for investment in new ones.  His appointment, and the formation of a wider regional management board, will be invaluable in driving our growth and coordinating the activities of our businesses in these important markets, resulting in a more cohesive offering and even better solutions for clients.  I look forward to welcoming him to Howden.”

Yilmaz said: “I am delighted to be joining Howden at this important stage of its impressive growth. Its existing regional businesses are extremely well-respected and there is a real and exciting opportunity to take Howden’s unique blend of expertise and entrepreneurialism to new sectors and markets in the region and to be a new and credible alternative for clients.”

Yilmaz will join the Howden Broking Group Board representing the region and the new regional management board, which will be established to align, coordinate and oversee the activities of Howden’s operations across India, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa.  Chaired by Praveen Vashishta, CEO and Chairman of Howden India, the board will focus on finding new ways to drive collaboration across the regions by capitalising on the broad range of capabilities and experience of the existing businesses to attract the best new talent and develop new products and services to meet clients’ changing needs.

Yilmaz has over 25 years’ experience in leadership positions across Asia and the Middle Eastern and Turkish insurance markets, including 13 years leading Marsh’s Large Clients/Risk Management and Specialty businesses in Turkey as Managing Director, three years as CEO in Indonesia, and in the last five years as CEO of Marsh in the United Arab Emirates and a member of its Middle East Executive Board.  He will join Howden after fulfilling his obligations to his current employer and will be based in Dubai.

Howden is also pleased to announce that Arvind Kashyapa, CEO of Howden UAE, will take on the additional role of Chairman of Howden UAE.  

Gokcen Suer, founder and CEO of Howden’s operations in Turkey, has decided to step down as CEO to pursue a new challenge outside the Group but will remain a shareholder.  Vedat Basan, Managing Director of GRC Howden and Cemal Uludag, Managing Director of Howden Sigorta, will continue to run Howden’s operations in Turkey and will join the boards of their respective businesses.

David Howden said: “I would personally like to thank Gokcen for his valuable contribution in developing and leading Howden’s businesses in Turkey and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”