Three appointments across Asia this week span insurtech regional leadership, insurance brand communications, and corporate legal services with a specific insurance market focus.
bolttech rotates APAC and North America leadership
Singapore-based insurtech bolttech has appointed Emma Butler (pictured above) as CEO, APAC, while Philip Weiner (pictured immediately below) has moved into the CEO, North America role, both effective immediately. Butler joins bolttech's group executive committee and succeeds Weiner, who previously led the APAC business. Weiner succeeds Jon Walheim, who is transitioning out of the North American leadership role and will remain as an adviser to bolttech's group CEO during the handover.
Butler has more than 20 years of experience across insurance, banking, and retail in Asia and Europe. She previously served as regional general manager for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, where her responsibilities included business development, strategic partnerships, and market teams across the three countries. She joined AmTrust Mobile Solutions Asia in 2015, before the business was acquired and integrated into bolttech.
Weiner has been with bolttech since its inception and has held several executive positions, including group chief data officer and chief commercial officer for Asia and Europe. An actuary by training, he has more than two decades of insurance experience alongside technology, data, and AI roles. Before joining bolttech, he held senior positions at FWD Insurance and Manulife covering product development, pricing, and commercial growth.
The rotation moves a leader with multi-market Southeast Asian experience into the APAC seat and a data and technology-focused actuary into the North American role - a combination that reflects where bolttech sees its near-term growth priorities on both sides of its global platform.
Bharti Axa Life Insurance has appointed Priya Chandni as head of brand and PR. Chandni joins from Generali Central Insurance, where she was associate vice president and head of brand and marketing communication, with responsibilities covering brand transformation, integrated campaigns, customer communication, employer branding, and distribution marketing.
Before Generali, she was assistant vice president, central marketing, at IDFC First Bank, and has held earlier roles at Gitanjali Gems, TBWA\India, Havas Worldwide Digital, and Carat Media Services. Her background spans financial services, jewellery, automobile, and aviation sectors, with a consistent focus on brand strategy, advertising, and integrated marketing communications.
Law firm Kennedys has appointed Andrew Carpenter as a partner in Hong Kong, strengthening its corporate and commercial practice. Carpenter has nearly 20 years of experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, Hong Kong insurance regulatory matters, and warranties and indemnities insurance for underwriters.
His work spans cross-border transactions and business matters across Asia, covering both corporate buyers and insurance market participants on the W&I side of M&A transactions.
For brokers placing W&I cover for clients in Hong Kong and across Asia, Carpenter's appointment gives Kennedys a named specialist at partner level in a market where W&I disputes can require advice across both the legal and insurance dimensions simultaneously. Kennedys established its Hong Kong office in 2000 and now has more than 70 lawyers and business services professionals, including 10 partners, with APAC revenue growth of 20.3% recorded in FY25/26.
