Cigna, a global healthcare company, has announced the appointment of Leah Cotterill as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East and Africa (excluding KSA), effective immediately.

In her new role, Leah brings over 25 years of industry leadership experience. She becomes the first female CEO to lead an international health insurance company in the UAE, in alignment with the UAE’s commitment to including more women in leadership roles and fostering gender equality. Based in Dubai, Leah will drive the company’s strategic expansion efforts across the region while overseeing key markets in the Middle East and Africa (excluding KSA). She takes over responsibilities from Jerome Droesch, who has moved on to assume a new role within the company as CEO – International Organisations, Domestic Health and Health Services, International Health.

Leah joined Cigna Healthcare in 2008 and has held key roles including Chief Distribution Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Global Distribution Leader, and Vice President of Client Management. In her previous roles, she served at AXA Health for nearly a decade.

On the academic front, Leah holds an MBA degree from Hult International Business School. Her core competencies include cross-cultural leadership, corporate sales, new business development, customer success, DEI, and leadership development.

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Welcoming Leah in the new role, Droesch said, “As the first female leader to take the helm of an international health insurance company in the UAE, Leah’s appointment is groundbreaking for the region. I already see diverse thinking and a renewed perspective reinvigorating our growth aspirations, and I am confident that her extensive knowledge of the healthcare sector, combined with an in-depth understanding of customer needs, makes her the ideal candidate to drive the MEA business into its next phase of growth and success. Having worked across diverse markets, including the Middle East, United States, and United Kingdom, Leah is a proven leader with an international mindset and an appreciation of what makes different business environments tick.”

Leah also commented, “I am thrilled to take on this role within Cigna Healthcare. The MEA region is primed for leading global healthcare innovation. The diverse and youthful population is key in our journey to ensuring greater access to high-quality care in line with our commitment to enhancing the health and vitality of communities. The UAE offers a unique opportunity to advance healthcare accessibility and empower communities to thrive. Dubai’s strategic position as a global business and innovation hub , underpinned by the country’s robust infrastructure, is key contributor to the UAE’s high standards for health-related quality of life.”