IPS Group Eyes Up Asian Markets

The IPS Group, the UK's leading specialist recruitment consultancy in insurance, financial services, legal and finance is looking to further enhance its international business with the appointment of two advisors to its International Advisory Board.

Sir David Brewer CMG is currently Chairman of the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC is a partnership between the government and British trade to assist companies to develop business in China) and a Board Member of UK India Business Council; he is Non-Executive Vice Chairman of insurance broker Marsh; Consultant – Asia with International Financial Services, London and was the 678th Lord Mayor of The City of London (2005 - 2006). In 2007 Sir David was President of the Insurance Institute of London. Sir David is particularly well known in Asia; he went to Tokyo in 1976 to open the Sedgwick Group's Japan office as well as setting up Sedgwick's office in Beijing in 1981.

Commenting on his appointment Sir David said: "The rapid development of the insurance and financial services sector in Asia is resulting in an ever increasing demand for experienced staff. The international experience and connections of the IPS Group will greatly assist companies with human resource needs in these dynamic markets and I am excited at the prospect of working with such a well respected brand."

Commenting on Sir David's appointment, Edward Snell, Director at IPS Group said: "Sir David's background is unique, he is vastly experienced in the Asian insurance and financial services markets, he has travelled to China in excess of 100 times. We are delighted to have attracted someone of Sir David's reputation, experience and profile".

Professor Gerry Dickinson is the Emeritus Professor in International Insurance at Cass Business School, City University, London, and is Vice Secretary General and Head of Insurance & Finance at the Geneva Association. He maintains close links with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) in Basel, of which the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority in India (IRDA) are key members. Professor Dickinson serves as a member of the International Academic Advisory Board of the Institute of Insurance and Risk Management at the IRDA, Hyderabad, and on the Academic Advisory Board of Singapore Insurance Institute. He has been closely involved with education and training initiatives in many emerging insurance markets, including China, India, Russia, Poland, Malaysia, and the Gulf states. He also holds non-executive directorships in insurance enterprises and visiting professorships in the UK and overseas.

Commenting on his new appointment Professor Dickinson said: "I am delighted to join the International Advisory Board of the IPS Group. The IPS Group has established a strong reputation for itself in providing high-quality services to the insurance and financial services industry in the UK and rest of Europe, and it now plans to extend its specialist expertise more globally. I know that it is committed to strengthening the quality of human resources within the insurance sector, on which the future growth and profitability of the sector will increasingly depend."

Commenting on Professor Dickinson's appointment, Edward Snell, Director of IPS Group said: I have known Gerry for many years and I am delighted that he has agreed to join our International Advisory Board. Our business in Asia and in particular China will be a broad Human Capital Consulting business and Gerry's experience will be of particular assistance to our clients in designing and developing training and knowledge transfer material for them.

Mr Patrick Ho has also joined the IPS Group as Head of Asia Pacific concentrating on working with clients in the region. Patrick takes a leading role in the company's broader consulting business, providing a range of technical and analytical as well as human capital consulting advice to insurance and financial services clients. He will be operating out of Hong Kong.

Patrick possesses a BSc in Statistics from City University, London and an MSc in Operational Research from the London School of Economics. Patrick has twenty-two years experience of working in the insurance/reinsurance industry as a senior analyst in pricing, credit risk rating and dynamic financial analysis (DFA) modelling. His previous employers include BUPA, Legal & General, Fitch Ratings and latterly Benfield Group.

Commenting on his appointment Patrick Ho said: "Asia is the place to be right now and the growth opportunity is simply mammoth. I am very excited to be involved with IPS and play a leading role in the Group's international expansion plans with such esteemed colleagues joining our International Advisory Board, I look forward to the challenges ahead in developing our consulting platform across Asia".

Commenting on Patrick Ho's appointment, Edward Snell, Director at IPS Group said: "Patrick is a great addition to the international team, he has a strong technical and analytical background which will be of enormous assistance to our clients in the Asia region".

Background on The IPS Group: The IPS Group has been operating within insurance and financial services recruitment and executive search for 38 years and was the first such company to specialise in this sector in the UK. IPS has grown to be the foremost specialist in this sector and has moved into the legal and finance recruitment markets. IPS has seven offices in the UK and an office in Chicago. IPS will further develop its business in Asia out of offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

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