Final day of Middle East Insurance Forum (MEIF) assesses impact of regional macroeconomic environment and trends on insurance industry

Eminent leaders from Milliman, Solidarity Group, Medgulf Takaful, Crescent Global lead discussions on industry outlook

Manama, Bahrain, 3 February 2016: Oil prices, rising interest rates, geopolitical stability - some of the most significant macro forces shaping the growth and development of Middle East’s insurance industry - will shape the critical discussion on the industry’s opportunities on the final day of the Middle East Insurance Forum (MEIF) 2016.

Today kick-started with an engaging analysis on the factors shaping the region’s insurance industry by Cambridge and Harvard trained Chief Economist of Bahrain Economic Development Board, Dr. Jarmo Kotilaine. The much awaited CEO Power Debate ensued and comprised of powerhouses from the industry who covered key market issues impacting insurers, reinsurers and brokers. The discussions were led by Safder Jaffer, Managing Managing Director & Consulting Actuary - Middle East & Africa at Milliman, Ashraf Bseisu, Group Chief Executive at Solidarity Group Holding, Theodor Alexandrescu, General Manager- Gulf at Metlife, Yassir Albaharna, CEO at Arab Insurance Group and Jamil R. Bahou, Chairman & Managing Director at Crescent Global Group.

The MEIF audience also witnessed an exclusive one-on-one interview with one of the most distinguished pioneers in the Middle East insurance industry, Muzaffer Aktas, Chairman of Willis Re for Turkey, the Middle East & Africa.

This afternoon MEIF will play host to two engaging Masterclasses on directors & officers liability (D&O) insurance, cyber liability and data protection. Respectively these sessions will be lead by well-known industry figures - respectively, Susan Dingwall, Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Muhannad Abdulmajeed, Head of Underwriting - Financial Lines at AIG and Aisling Malone, Professional Indeminity and Cyber Leader - MENA at AIG.

As part of a renewed tech-focused agenda, MEIF 2016 will end on a digital note with the help of Jonathan Matchett, Senior Manager of MENA Insurance Advisory at Ernst & Young who will address how Data Analytics can help revolutionize the region’s insurance industry. The global insurance industry has been disrupted with the application of big data and advanced analytics, which have radically changed the process of risk assessments and pricing. Matchett will address how the the regional insurance industry can realize the benefits of this technology.