Botswana Insurance Company Limited (BIC) has announced the appointment of Mr. Newton Jazire as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will succeed Managing Director, Mr. Johann Claasen, who led the organisation in achieving exceptional financial performance, strengthened the brand and focused on the introduction of new products, innovation and capacity building.
Commenting on Newton Jazire’s appointment, outgoing MD Johann Claasen said: “Newton is an outstanding colleague and I am pleased to be handing over the reins to a visionary and strategic leader.”
Mr. Jazire is not new to BIC, he has a wealth of experience in the industry and specifically within BIC where he was the Claims Manager from 2004 to 2010. Jazire was responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of the claims division strategy, in alignment with the overall company objectives. He was recognised for improving the operational process and successfully achieved budget targets. He is familiar with Botswana’s dynamic market, the industry and its competitive landscape.
Jazire thanked his predecessor for a job well done and congratulated Claasen for setting high standards and a precedence for continuous improvement. The BIC CEO stated that his key objective is to drive customer centricity, enhance technology to create an enabling environment for both internal and external stakeholders and build capacity to meet the dynamic market as well as adjust the company to international best business practices.
He emphasised that people are a critical component of the business, and he intends to up skill employees to think more innovatively & has plans to create a conducive and mind stimulating workplace environment all aimed at customer convenience, demand and satisfaction. Jazire has already identified high performing youthful talent for leadership positions and has put in place a transition and succession plan, just one, of the many, positive initiatives he has envisioned for the business strategy.
Newton Jazire, has over 15 years experience in the region, specifically in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Uganda where he provided strategic and operational leadership in Insurance and Risk management. He successfully held the position of Managing Director for Lion Assurance Company Limited in Uganda, for 5 years before joining BIC.
Jazire not only increased shareholder value, revenue and the company’s profitability, he also grew the company’s asset and investment base and positioned Lion Assurance as one of the most profitable top 3 insurance companies in Uganda. The BIC CEO has attributed his success to his visionary leadership, people motivation, strategy formulation, sound business development, customer relations management including Government relations and stakeholder management.
Mr. Jazire has a Masters in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa-School of Business and is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner. BIC was established in 1975 providing insurance solutions for both general and life assurance business, but was subsequently restructured to provide only short term market solutions in 1991 to comply with the Botswana Insurance act of 1987. BIC is the oldest short term insurance company in Botswana with an experience of 43 years in the market. BIC has a head office in Gaborone and 2 branches in Francistown & Maun respectively to cater for the Northern region.