Bobby Swarup
Managing Director
Imara
A Volante Emerging Markets Company
“Imara” is a Swahili word that means strong, resilient and resolute and these are our core attributes. We provide reinsurance backed by A rated security (Standard & Poor’s) and are proud to offer this to our partners in Africa and high growth markets. Our objective is to bring improvements and support the development of a sustainable and resilient reinsurance market.
Imara’s proposition of international security coupled with an exclusive focus on Africa is truly unique.
We believe the African market deserves exclusive focus, differentiated service, high-grade security and the peace of mind that comes with that.
At Imara, we enable marginal improvements in each and every risk we underwrite which over time will support the advancement of the African reinsurance industry. Therefore, we only write business where we can clearly see a value add for our partners – brokers, cedants or reinsurers – and aim to work exclusively with key strategic partners.
The areas we are most passionate about are pricing, product development and technology. You can expect an open and timely dialogue with us, providing you with a view on pricing, suggesting alternatives on product design and our terms of participating on risks.
We also understand the importance of effective claims handling and efficient claims service and see this as a core component of our offering. An efficient and transparent claims service is at the heart of being able to build long-term partnerships.
We are exclusively focussed on Africa with a commitment to being present locally. We believe sustainable relationships are built in person and through a common understanding of the opportunities and challenges that our partners deal with every day. The Imara team has worked extensively across the African continent, investing in and operating Insurance businesses. We are passionate about spending time in each market in order to achieve the best results for our clients.
Managing Director
Imara
Managing Director
Imara
Bobby has over 16 years of insurance industry experience across the London Market and Africa.
During his career, Bobby was Chief Financial Officer at a London-based investment fund which owned and operated insurance businesses in high-growth markets in Africa and Asia. Prior to this, he was a Director at EY, overseeing all aspects of providing assurance and advisory services to a client portfolio of large and listed global re/insurance groups.
Recently, as a board member of a Nigerian insurance company, he played a central role in greatly improving the firm’s performance prior to the company’s sale to Allianz.
Bobby has worked with boards and C-Suite executives of insurance businesses to set their vision and strategy, and has mentored teams to become more client-centric, improve their operations and grow profitably.
Managing Director
Imara
Managing Director
Imara
Bilal is a seasoned re/insurance professional, with experience across underwriting and pricing roles in London, Zurich and in high-growth markets.
Prior to joining Volante, Bilal was Director of Underwriting at a London-based investment fund which owned and operated insurance businesses in high-growth markets in Africa and Asia. He oversaw the successful turnaround of underwriting performance across the group.
As a board member of portfolio companies, he drove portfolio shifts towards profitability, implemented a strong governance culture and enabled a step-change in operational efficiency through the use of state-of-the-art underwriting technology.
Previously, Bilal spent several years at Swiss Re in underwriting and pricing roles, where his clients included some of the largest global insurers, advising them on reinsurance structures, solvency optimisation and risk management.
Portfolio Director, Facultative
Imara
Portfolio Director, Facultative
Imara
Adam joined Imara in April 2020 to lead the development of the Facultative portfolio proposition, and brings with him almost 20 years of broad Lloyd’s and London market Underwriting experience.
His most recent appointment was as Class Underwriter for International Property D&F at the Barbican 1955 syndicate in Lloyd’s, where he was responsible for the portfolio planning, development and performance of a profitable niche portfolio of worldwide property business.
Prior to this appointment, Adam spent 6 years at Zurich, and 4 years at Aspen Re in a variety of UK corporate and Property Investors, and International Underwriting roles.
Throughout his career, Adam has demonstrated a proven track record of developing beneficial business relationships in multiple territories, and many years of experience in dealing directly with C-Suite insurance and non-insurance professionals including some of the world’s largest organisations, advising on Insurance placements and wordings.
Assistant Underwriter
Imara
Assistant Underwriter
Imara
Ryan has been working within the insurance industry for two and a half years, where he has had multiple roles working within Lloyds syndicates, working both operational and underwriting assistant roles. Before his time in insurance, Ryan studied at university where he got an upper second class degree.
Consultant
Imara
Consultant
Imara
Stephen has recently retired from Britam where he served as Principal Executive Director overseeing performance of business units in seven countries. In his 26-year tenure at Britam, Stephen’s leadership helped to drive the growth of the company from a small life insurer in Kenya to a leading diversified financial services group operating in seven countries in Africa. Stephen continues to serve Britam as a Non-Executive Director. In addition, Stephen also held other highly prestigious roles as Chairman of the Association of Kenya Insurers and a former Governor of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.