Navigators builds Asia presence with new Hong Kong team

The Navigators Group Inc. said Wednesday that it has appointed three insurance industry veterans to head up its new leadership team in Asia.

Jon Doherty has been appointed managing director of Asia, Sang Kyoun (S.K.) Kim has been named chief underwriting officer, and Paul D'Souza has been appointed chief operating officer-chief financial officer for the region, the Stamford, Connecticut-based global specialty insurer and reinsurer said in a statement.

The team will be based in Hong Kong. 

Navigators said all three executives had worked for Chubb Ltd. — Mr. Doherty most recently as strategic marketing manager of Asia-Pacific, Mr. Kim most recently as Korea branch deputy representative, and Mr. D’Souza previously as senior vice president and CFO for Asia-Pacific.

Navigators said in the statement that the appointments build upon Navigators' existing participation in Lloyd's China, where the company has operated since 2010. 

“Our focus is particularly in North Asia to start with, primarily looking at Korea, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong,” said Michael Casella, Navigators’ president of international insurance. “We’re particularly bullish on the Korean market.”