Gallagher has appointed Ajit Horra as chief executive officer and principal officer of its insurance broking business in India, pending regulatory approval.
Horra (pictured), a seasoned industry leader with over three decades of experience, will take on responsibility for driving the company’s operations and strategy in the Indian market.
Horra joined Gallagher in late 2024 as managing director after seven years with Prudent Insurance Brokers, where he most recently served as board director and technical head. Over his career, he has held senior positions with United India Insurance Company and Aon, building extensive expertise across multiple facets of the insurance industry.
In his new role, Horra will oversee Gallagher’s 180 employees based in Mumbai, supported by regional offices in cities including Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Gurugram, Guwahati, and Kolkata.
He succeeds Sneha Gokarn, who is stepping down. He will report to Simon Matson, executive vice president of Gallagher’s Global Brokerage business, overseeing EMEA and global reinsurance operations.
Commenting on the appointment, Matson said Horra is a natural leader for the business in India.
“We view India as a key growth market for Gallagher, given its size and scale, and we see many opportunities for further development of the business with Ajit leading the team,” he said.
Horra expressed enthusiasm about his new responsibilities, stating that he will focus on ensuring that the company provides clients with high-quality advice and products while building on Gallagher’s global expertise to address the evolving risks faced by businesses in India.
“I am excited by the prospect of taking the helm of Gallagher’s broking business in India, having the opportunity to lead its team of talented colleagues with the simple objectives of becoming the employer and advisor of choice,” he said.
The company’s operations focus on providing insurance and risk management solutions across various sectors such as automotive, aviation, marine, construction, energy, life sciences, and transactional liability for mergers and acquisitions.
Gallagher first entered the Indian market in 2019 through a partnership with Edelweiss Insurance Brokers, which it fully acquired in 2021. Following the acquisition, the business was rebranded as Gallagher in 2022.