Chief Underwriting Officer: Strategy, Growth & Innovation

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

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.