Howden Re, a global insurance intermediary group, has appointed Motaz Bukhari as the Chief Executive Officer to lead reinsurance operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), upon receiving approval from the regulatory authorities.

In his new role, Bukhari brings around two decades of leadership experience, with over 15 years spent in the insurance sector. Most recently, he served Marsh Guy Carpenter Re Brokers – KSA as the Deputy CEO.

Prior to that, he worked with Guy Carpenter in the UAE, Willis Re, Arch Reinsurance, and Gulf Reinsurance. Outside the insurance industry, he held key engineering roles at Aramco for over five years.

Commenting on the expansion news, David Howden CBE, CEO of Howden said. “We couldn’t be more excited to open the doors to Howden KSA. This is a country buzzing with opportunity. It is one of the fastest growing economies in the G20 with a hugely ambitious vision that puts insurance front and centre. 

We have already built up a strong partnership with the Kingdom thanks to our role as part of the UK government’s Great Futures delegation, our work with Saudi EXIM bank and our sponsorship of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. We now look forward to turbocharging our efforts – building a long-term commitment with our Saudi partners, providing innovative solutions to the local market, and a fresh alternative for home-grown talent.”

Richard Mockett, CEO, Howden Middle East and Africa, added, "Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary pace of development presents a unique opportunity for the (re)insurance sector to play a critical role in supporting and de-risking the Kingdom’s ambitious initiatives. We are proud to announce our entry into this strategically vital market, marking a significant moment in our ongoing expansion across the Middle East.

Under Motaz’s leadership and guidance, we are confident that Howden will make a huge contribution to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and rapidly evolving (re)insurance sector."

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Mario Baotic, Head of International Growth Markets, Howden Re, also commented: “Our entry into Saudi Arabia marks an important milestone in Howden Re’s international growth and reinforces our commitment to the Middle East.

With its ambitious economic transformation and increasing demand for sophisticated risk solutions, the Kingdom offers significant opportunities to deliver real value through our specialist expertise and data-driven capabilities. We are here to build for the long term – partnering locally, investing in local talent, and shaping a new chapter of reinsurance innovation and resilience across the region.”