Howden has expanded its M&A insurance team in Asia with 12 hires across Singapore, Greater China and Japan, largely drawing on Aon talent as it scales up its regional transactional risk capability.
The appointments add to an existing eight-person regional M&A team based in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, according to a press release issued on 18 March. These include Xianwei Lee as head of M&A, Asia; Adrian Chai as head of warranty and indemnity, Asia, and head of M&A, South-East Asia; Eugene Lim as head of tax, Asia; and Cathryn Neo as head of litigation and contingent risk, Asia, as well as head of M&A claims, Asia.
Other Singapore appointments include Blossom Lim as senior director, Jamie Wan as senior director, Mark Wong as associate director, Natalie Worthington as senior associate, tax, and Janice Jiang as associate. In Greater China, Chen Jianhua joins as director and Rosy Wang as associate director, while Shunsuke Takechi has been appointed head of M&A, Japan.
Howden said the Asian expansion forms part of its strategy to build a global M&A insurance platform. Its M&A team now comprises more than 300 practitioners across 20 countries, including more than 100 employees added through its recent acquisition of Atlantic Group in the US. Earlier this month, the group also announced two senior appointments to its global financial sponsors team.
With the announcement, Rohan Bhappu, CEO of Howden Asia, noted: “Deal volumes continue to be robust with transactions getting increasingly complex with higher level of associated risk. Buyers in the region are actively turning to M&A insurance to de-risk transactions.”
Also commenting on the development, Lee, the new Head of M&A for the region, said the broker is expecting a busy 2026. “We are thrilled that this team of talented individuals has chosen to join us to provide clients across Asia, and globally, with the right strategic advice and guidance on legal, financial and tax diligence ahead of what we anticipate to be a busy year ahead for M&A transactions.”
