FWD Group Holdings Limited has announced Dr Sarah Salvilla (pictured) as the newly appointed group chief health officer, leading the establishment of its new health division, FWD HealthyMe.
This unit is poised to integrate cutting-edge health technology and research into its services, offering both diagnostic assistance and extensive accident and health insurance solutions.
FWD HealthyMe will build upon the company’s established offerings in life insurance, critical illness, and medical insurance.
Binayak Dutta, managing director of FWD Group, expressed the company’s strategy of extending its customer-focused and digital-first approach from life insurance to the broader accident and health sectors.
“Over the past decade, FWD brought its pioneering approach to the life insurance industry in Asia – combining a customer-led and digital-first mindset to great success. Today, we’re applying the same ethos of changing the way people feel about insurance to the accident and health space. This is a segment which continues to post double digit growth rates in Asia, driven by rising incomes, awareness of health and demand for increased protection against unforeseen medical and financial challenges,” he said.
Commenting on the appointment, he said: “I’m delighted to tap the leadership of Dr Salvilla for this new business. With a unique combination of clinical experience, commercial acumen, and an evidence-based mindset, Dr Salvilla will develop innovative partnerships with healthcare providers and industry leaders to support our customers to celebrate living.”
Salvilla’s experience spans clinical practice and health management. Initially starting as a clinician and surgeon in the UK's NHS, she later served as a consultant for the World Health Organization’s primary care safety initiative.
Before her 2021 move to FWD’s Hong Kong office to oversee the group customer and operations team, Salvilla spent a decade in healthcare management roles at a global healthcare firm in the UK.
“Advancements in technology, precision medicine, research, and health awareness present a unique opportunity for a customer focused and digitally enabled company like FWD to be a proactive health partner to customers,” Salvilla said. “I am honoured to lead the new FWD HealthyMe business and look forward to making a positive impact on the lives of people and their families across our 10 markets in Asia.”
In addition, FWD HealthyMe will serve as the health insurance partner at the Asia Summit on Global Health, taking place from May 16 to 17 in Hong Kong.
This event is co-organised by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. It aims to gather leaders from policy, healthcare, academia, and business to share insights, uncover opportunities, and foster collaboration within the global healthcare landscape.
The launch of a new business unit follows FWD’s expansion of its partnership with Microsoft to amplify its AI strategy.
