Chief Underwriting Officer

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 2,500,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Performance bonuses

Medical + retirement plans

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Chief Underwriting Officer to lead our client’s underwriting strategy and operations from Pretoria, Gauteng. The role demands executive leadership, deep insurance knowledge, and a proven ability to drive innovation and sustainable growth across product lines.

The CUO will set strategic direction, oversee guidelines, monitor profitability, and collaborate with the CEO, CFO and CRO on capital allocation. Travel domestically and internationally may be required.

Qualifications

• MBA/Finance/Actuarial Science or related field.
• 10–15 years of senior leadership experience in insurance underwriting.
• Proven strategic thinking and execution in complex insurance environments.
• Deep knowledge of diverse insurance lines, global markets, and emerging risks.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the underwriting strategy aligned with corporate objectives.
• Establish and oversee underwriting guidelines across all units and lines.
• Lead and develop the underwriting team toward high performance.
• Monitor profitability, KPIs, and portfolio performance with corrective actions.
• Collaborate with CEO, CFO, and CRO on strategic planning and capital allocation.
• Ensure compliance with SA regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Drive development of new underwriting tools, technologies, and data analytics.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Regulatory acumen

Financial acumen

Negotiation

Education

MBA/Finance/Actuarial Science or related

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly respected and rapidly expanding insurance group, is seeking a visionary Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) to lead their underwriting strategy and operations from their Pretoria, Gauteng headquarters. This executive position is critical in shaping the company's underwriting philosophy, risk appetite, and profitability across all product lines. The ideal candidate will possess extensive leadership experience, a deep understanding of complex insurance markets, and a proven ability to drive innovation and sustainable growth. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for the underwriting function, ensuring it remains competitive, compliant, and aligned with the overall business objectives. This is a paramount opportunity to influence the future of a leading insurer in Pretoria.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company's overall underwriting strategy, aligning it with corporate objectives and market dynamics.
• Establish and oversee the underwriting guidelines, policies, and procedures across all business units and product lines.
• Manage and develop the underwriting team, fostering a high-performance culture of expertise, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor underwriting profitability, key performance indicators, and portfolio performance, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Collaborate closely with the executive team, including the CEO, CFO, and Chief Risk Officer, on strategic planning and capital allocation.
• Ensure the company's underwriting practices are compliant with all relevant South African regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
• Lead the development and implementation of new underwriting tools, technologies, and data analytics capabilities.
• Represent the company's underwriting perspective in industry forums, with reinsurers, and with regulatory bodies.
• Oversee the management of reinsurance relationships from an underwriting perspective.
• Drive innovation in product development and underwriting approaches to enhance market competitiveness and profitability.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Actuarial Science, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10-15 years of senior leadership experience in insurance underwriting, with a strong track record of success.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and execution capabilities within a complex insurance environment.
• In-depth knowledge of diverse insurance lines, global markets, and emerging risks.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire large, high-performing teams.
• Exceptional financial acumen, analytical skills, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks in the South African financial services sector.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with reinsurance strategies and negotiations is essential.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required for business purposes.

Benefits

• This executive role comes with a highly competitive compensation package, including a substantial base salary, significant performance-based bonuses, and long-term incentives.
• Benefits include top-tier medical and retirement plans, executive-level health and wellness programs, and unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and industry recognition.

The company fosters a culture of innovation and provides a dynamic work environment in the administrative capital, Pretoria.