Optio appoints Jeffers to lead Asia-Pacific expansion

Optio Group has appointed Jamie Jeffers (pictured) as managing director of Optio Asia, effective immediately.

Based in Singapore, Jeffers will lead the specialty MGA’s next phase of growth across Asia-Pacific, with responsibility for expanding underwriting capabilities and identifying new business opportunities.

Optio said it plans to build on the regional platform provided by Circles Group, broadening its specialty offering, assessing additional classes of business and deepening relationships with brokers, capacity providers and other market partners.

Jeffers joins from Canopius, where he was head of credit and political risk for Asia-Pacific and head of the global underwriting committee.

At Canopius, he established and developed the regional credit and political risk business and provided global oversight of an international underwriting portfolio.

Earlier in his career, Jeffers held senior roles at Willis Towers Watson and Westpac across insurance and banking.

Deepak Soni, CEO of Optio Group, said: “Asia-Pacific is a key market for us as we continue to build a broader specialty insurance platform.

“Circles Group provides an established regional platform from which to develop new capabilities and bring more of Optio’s underwriting expertise to clients and partners across Asia-Pacific.”

Soni added: “Jamie has a proven track record of building successful businesses and leading high-performing underwriting teams.

“His experience, local market relationships and disciplined approach will be invaluable as we grow across the region.”

Jeffers said: “Asia-Pacific offers significant opportunities for a specialty platform with the right underwriting expertise, distribution network and capacity partnerships.

“Thanks to Circles Group, we already have a strong foundation in the region. I look forward to working with our teams, partners and clients to broaden our offering and build a sustainable, profitable business for the long term,” he added.