FWD Group (“FWD”) today announced the appointment of Simeon Preston as Managing Director and Group Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Sim will be responsible for FWD’s customer, operations, product, digital, technology and transformation teams, working to support the successful expansion of the business and its operations across Asia. He succeeds Rob Schimek, who will be transitioning into a broader role within FWD’s group of businesses, in particular its growing digital general insurance capabilities, overseeing the development of new ventures across the region.

Huynh Thanh Phong, Group Chief Executive Officer of FWD, said, “Sim has extensive leadership and industry experience both globally and regionally in Asia and we’re delighted to welcome him into the FWD family. I’ve no doubt that his insights, experience and strategic ideas will help us to build on our successes to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.”

Sim said, “I have been deeply impressed watching from the sidelines as FWD has positively shaken up the industry with its innovative and dynamic approach in such a short space of time. I’m excited to be given the opportunity now to join a team that is so committed and passionate about challenging the status quo and disrupting the industry for the ultimate benefit of customers, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Sim joins FWD from his role as CEO International Markets at Bupa, based in the UK. Prior to Bupa, Sim was Group Chief Operations Officer at AIA, based in Hong Kong. Earlier in his career he was a partner at two leading management consulting firms.

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About FWD Group

Established in Asia in 2013 with a trailblazer mentality, FWD is the primary insurance business of investment group, Pacific Century Group

FWD Group spans 10 markets in Asia including Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Cambodia, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, employee benefits, Shariah and family takaful products across a number of its markets.

FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences and making the insurance journey simpler, faster and smoother, with innovative propositions and easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to be a leading pan-Asian insurer by changing the way people feel about insurance.

For more information please visit www.fwd.com