Howden has named Alaric Lee as its next chief executive officer for Hong Kong, effective 1 July 2026, subject to regulatory approval. He will succeed Alfred Sham, who will move to Singapore to become chief strategy officer for Asia.
Lee joined Howden as chief commercial officer, Asia in December, following 15 years at Marsh. His industry experience has seen him work across the region, including for more than 10 years in Hong Kong.
“I am excited to return to Hong Kong and take on this new role,” said Lee. “It is a market I know well, with tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to working closely with the team to build on the strong foundation in place and deliver for our clients.”
Sham has led the Hong Kong business for two years, during which it has doubled in size, Howden said. As chief strategy officer for Asia, he will now focus on regional growth, new initiatives, acquisitions, and the entry into new markets.
“It has been a privilege to lead the Hong Kong business and to work alongside such a talented team,” said Sham. “I am proud of the progress we have made together and look forward to contributing to Howden’s continued growth across the region in my new role.”
The leadership shakeup is the latest in a series of key appointments by Howden this year, as the global broker looks to strengthen its regional presence. Among those are a dozen transactional lines hires from rival Aon, underlining the growing need for mergers-and-acquisitions insurance in the region. Other recent appointments in Asia-Pacific include Andy Buddell as Asia COO, Eva Li as GM for facultative reinsurance, China, and Mani Tsang as head of claims for Hong Kong.
