Collaboration, relationship-building and a holistic view of risk – these principles are at the core of how Amon Khoza, the new Head of Business Development for Hollard Alternative Risk Transfer (HART), approaches his role in risk finance.

Khoza joins on 1 March 2023 and will take over from incumbent Basil Valsamakis, who retires at the end of June. He comes to Hollard following a 10-year stint at Guardrisk and, prior to that, he worked at Aon, Marsh, Centriq Insurance and Hannover Re – amassing a total of 26 years in the insurance industry and a wealth of experience along the way.

The main lesson he learned during this time, Khoza says, is that “relationships are the cornerstone of any successful business”.

“Hollard is a dynamic business with an entrepreneurial culture,” he says of his new role. “My immediate priority is to zone in on existing strengths and amplify them while building strategies to explore opportunities and to enhance the division’s business.”

Khoza says he did not intentionally choose a career in insurance “but once I was exposed to it, I was intrigued and wanted to understand the value chain”. To this end, his career to date comprises experience in reinsurance where he started, broking mainly risk finance consulting and finally, insurance.

“I have specifically settled in risk finance as it provides a solutions-driven mindset as opposed to selling a product. This appeals to me, because it means the insurance programmes structured for customers are needs-driven and not confined to products available in the insurance market.”

He says the current “cocktail” of risk challenges is exerting financial strain on insurers and customers alike, with clients’ total cost of risk increasing exponentially and insurers facing capacity challenges. The solution, he believes, is “a holistic approach that harnesses collaboration between the client, their intermediary or risk adviser, the insurer and, where necessary, the reinsurance partners to prioritise and systematically deal with risk”.

Khoza is also concerned about the shortage of skills in the insurance industry. “The old practice of the industry ‘growing its own timber’ should be reconsidered. There are initiatives being driven by different forums; however, I am of the view that more can be done in this regard,” he says.

“We need to upskill entrants to the industry to possess some level of risk consulting mindset that complements their general underwriting and claims management capabilities if we are to meaningfully service customers in a sustainable manner.”

Head of HART Daphne Peter has welcomed Khoza’s appointment, saying he will be a valuable asset to the team. “We look forward to drawing on Amon’s extensive knowledge and expertise to enhance our risk finance offering to our corporate clients, helping them to explore innovative ways to manage their risk sustainably.”