Prudential appoints new Singapore chief

INSURER Prudential has announced two leadership appointments with effect from Tuesday.

Philip Seah, outgoing chief executive of the Singapore office, will now take over an executive role as senior adviser in Prudential Corporation Asia (PCA) to support the company's region-wide growth agenda.

He will report to Lilian Ng, chief executive, insurance, at PCA.

Ms Ng said in a note that Mr Seah's distinguished career with Prudential spans over three decades across a number of markets. "His extensive knowledge and region-wide expertise will be leveraged in this new role as we harness growth ambitions."

Wilf Blackburn, current Vietnam country head and CEO of Prudential Vietnam, will take over from Mr Seah, pending regulatory approval.

Ms Ng said Mr Blackburn is an industry veteran with diverse experience, having worked in seven countries in Asia.

"Wilf joined Prudential in 2012 and led new market initiatives prior to his appointment as CEO of Prudential Vietnam. Under his leadership, Prudential Vietnam has gone from strength to strength and become the envy of the industry," she added.

Mr Blackburn has been the chief of Prudential Vietnam since August 2014.

Mr Seah first joined Prudential Singapore as a part-time agent in 1978 and from there, he rose through the ranks to serve in various leadership roles including director of agency development at PCA, deputy CEO of Prudential Philippines and CEO of Prudential Singapore.

In 2010, Mr Seah took over as regional chief agency officer at PCA where he spent two years before assuming the role of CEO of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Berhad in November 2012. He rejoined the Singapore office in October 2015.