West appoints new CEO for Hong Kong office
West is pleased to announce the appointment of Cai Xuanlun (“XL”) as the new CEO of its Hong Kong office effective December 2024.
XL joined West’s Hong Kong office in 2013, having graduated from Shanghai Maritime University with a law degree and then spending several years practicing law in mainland China. He then earned an MA in Law at University of Bristol prior to joining the Club, handling both P&I and FD&D claims before transferring to the Underwriting Department in 2017.
He was appointed Regional Head of Underwriting in 2022 and leads the underwriting relationship for West’s extensive Chinese membership. XL will continue in this role in addition to becoming the CEO, supported by the Hong Kong underwriting team which has recently been further strengthened with the appointment of Windy Zheng as Business Development Manager.
XL succeeds Richard Macnamara as CEO, who steps down from the role after twenty-eight years having made an outstanding contribution to the growth of West’s business in Asia and the development of the Hong Kong office. Richard will continue to act as a Senior Advisor to XL and the Hong Kong team into 2025.
Quentin Drew will remain as Head of Claims for Hong Kong and work alongside XL in the management of the Hong Kong office.
Tony Paulson, Head of Asia, West, commented:
“We are delighted XL is to become our new CEO in Hong Kong. West is a leading Club in China and XL has been at the forefront of helping to build and maintain those vital relationships with our Chinese members, partners and brokers. This appointment is a recognition of that fact as well as a firm commitment to the future of our Hong Kong office.
I would also like to pay tribute to the exceptional role Richard has played as CEO in Hong Kong for many years. He has provided outstanding leadership and support and I’m very pleased that he will continue to provide mentoring for XL and others as we move into this new era.”
XL Cai, commented:
"I am very happy to take up this new opportunity to lead the team in Hong Kong and continue to deliver the service and support our Members expect of us in this region. Asia is an enormously important area for West and China is a key part of that. It recently became the world’s leading shipowning nation by tonnage and West is well positioned to support that expanding market by providing a wide variety of marine insurance products all backed by outstanding service from our Hong Kong office.
It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from Richard and I look forward to taking the office forward.”
We wish XL every success in his new role.