The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) announces today (Wednesday, 30 April 2008) the appointment of its Governing Committee for the term 2008/2009:

Chairman: Ms Agnes K O Koon Falcon Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Limited

Deputy Chairman: Mr James C K Wong Dah Sing Life Assurance Company Limited

Members: Mr David Alexander Swiss Reinsurance Company

Mr M K Cheng ING Life Insurance Co (Bermuda) Limited

Ms Agnes H K Choi HSBC Insurance (Asia) Limited

Mr Michael E Huddart Manulife (International) Limited

Mr Leo C H Ma The Prudential Assurance Company Limited

Mr K Y To Transamerica Life (Bermuda) Limited

Mr Barry C K Yeung AXA General Insurance Hong Kong Limited

Mr Allan K N Yu Zurich Insurance Company

Ms Agnes Koon has over 20 years of practical experience in the general insurance while Mr James Wong has almost 40 years of experience in insurance industry.

Under the Governing Committee of the HKFI, there are two Councils responsible for dealing with all technical matters concerning general insurance and life insurance respectively. The General Insurance Council is chaired by Mr Allan Yu while the Life Insurance Council is chaired by Mr K Y To. 

Established in August 1988, the HKFI enjoys full recognition by the Hong Kong SAR Government as the representative insurer body of the industry. It exists to promote insurance to the people of Hong Kong and build consumer confidence in the industry by promoting high standards of ethics and professionalism amongst its Members.

The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers Chairman 2008/2009
Ms Agnes K O Koon

Ms Koon is the Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers.  She was Chairman of General Insurance Council in the term of 2006/2007 and has been serving as Councillor of the General Insurance Council since 2003.  Ms Koon has been elected as member of the Governing Committee of HKFI since 2005. To prepare the general insurance industry in the formation of the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme, Ms Koon was elected the Chairman of the Provisional Board in 2005/2006 and as Board Member of the Employees' Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme in 2007/2008.  Ms Koon has been elected as member of the Advisory Board of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation in 2008/2009.

Ms Koon is Director and Chief Operating Officer of Falcon Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Limited. She has extensive experience in general insurance and has been in management role for over 20 years. Ms Koon had overseas postings to Jardine Matheson, Taipei and Continental Insurance, Australia for a couple of years.  Before joining Falcon Insurance, Ms Koon was in charge of Personal Insurance of HSBC Insurance Limited.

Ms Koon's bachelor degree was in Social Sciences, with major in Economics, Accounting & Business Management at the University of Hong Kong.  She is a Chartered Insurer and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. She is also a member of Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management. Ms Koon is active in community services. She has been the Vice President of Hong Kong Women Professional & Entrepreneurs Association since 2004 and was Vice President of Zonta Club of Kowloon 2004-2006. Ms Koon was awarded the 2007 One Hundred China Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs by the China Association of Women Entrepreneurs.

The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers Deputy Chairman 2008/2009
Mr James C K WONG

Mr Wong is currently the Deputy Chairman of the HKFI and a member of the Governing Committee of the HKFI. He was Chairman of the Life Insurance Council, Task Force on Review of the Code of Practice for the Administration of Insurance Agents, and represents the Life Insurance Council on the Committee on Investment Linked Assurance and Pooled Retirement Funds under the Securities and Futures Commission in the term of 2007/2008. He was the Chairman of the Professional Standards Working Group of Life Insurance Council in 2005/2006 and a member of the General Committee of the Insurance Claims Complaints Bureau from 2001 to 2006.

Mr Wong has a wealth of industry experience for almost 40 years and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Dah Sing Life Assurance Company Limited.

Mr Wong has been an Honorary Vice President of the Advisory Board of the Economics & Finance Society of the University of Hong Kong since 2006.  Since 2005, he has also been appointed member of the Banking Advisory Committee. Mr Wong has been a member of the Advisory Board on Insurance, Financial & Actuarial Analysis of the Chinese University of Hong Kong since 2003. He was elected a member of the Employers' Federation of Hong Kong's Special Task Force on Employees Compensation & Assistance Scheme and Special Committee on Mandatory Provident Fund in 2001-2006.

General Insurance Council Chairman 2008/2009
Mr Allan K N Yu

Mr Yu is Chairman of the General Insurance Council and a member of the Governing Committee of the HKFI, was the Chairman of the Task Force on Employees Compensation and Task Force on Insurance Scam and a member of Task Force on Residual Scheme and Task Force on Terrorism Levy in the term of 2007/2008.  Mr Yu has also actively participated in a number of industry bodies and other insurance associations. He is currently appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Employees Compensation Insurer Insolvency Bureau and a Council Member of the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Hong Kong whilst serving as the Honorary Secretary of the Insurance Claims Complaints Bureau.

Mr Yu is Director of General Business at Zurich Insurance Company, responsible for strategic planning and driving the success of the general business for Zurich Group in Hong Kong. He has over 30 years of experience in general insurance and expertise in underwriting, pricing, reinsurance, claim reserving models and product development.

Mr Yu holds the professional qualification of Associateship of The Chartered Insurance Institute. He earned a Diploma in the Young Manager Programme at INSEAD (The European Institute of Business Administration) in France.

Life Insurance Council Chairman 2008/2009
Mr K Y To

Mr To is the Chairman of the Life Insurance Council and a member of the Governing Committee of HKFI for the term 2008/09. He has been serving as a Councilor of Life Insurance Council since 2004. Mr To also serves as a member of the Insurance Agent Registration Board since 2005.

Mr To has over 25 years of life insurance experience in various operation areas including policy administration, underwriting & claims and marketing. Mr To is now a Director and Vice President – Operation / International – Transamerica Life (Bermuda) Ltd., responsible for operations in all international branches. He is also General Manager – Hong Kong Branch responsible for the Transamerica Life (Bermuda) Ltd. Hong Kong Branch.

Mr To is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI) and Associate Life and Health Claims (ALHC).