Howden completes Accette broker buy in Indonesia

Howden Broking Group chief executive Tim Coles said Indonesia was a “great opportunity” following the completion of the acquisition of Accette Insurance Group operation, PT Accette Brokers Assuransi.

The business has been renamed PT Howden Insurance Brokers Indonesia, and will trade under the Howden brand.

Coles said: “With the world’s fourth largest population and a robust and growing economy, Indonesia is an important global market. 

“The huge infrastructure development currently planned and taking place in the country, combined with a growing affluent community and low levels of insurance penetration, mean that it is also a market of great opportunity which we intend to be a major part of.”

A number of senior management appointments have been made as integration of the business begins:

• Willy Ignatius will join Howden as president director to lead the Indonesian operation, subject to regulatory approval. Ignatius was previously senior vice president at Aon Indonesia. 
• Armand Wibisono, previously marketing director at JLT Indonesia, will join as marketing director for the operation, also subject to regulatory approval.
• Dick Stuip, previously deputy country manager of PT Accette Brokers Assuransi, will take responsibility for the operational development of the business as operations director. 
• Violetha Manurung will join Howden on August 16th to head up the Employee Benefits division.  She was previously assistant vice President, employee benefits at Marsh Indonesia.

Praveen Vashishta, executive chairman of Howden’s retail business in Asia, said: “It is extremely important that these recognised market experts have joined us as we seek to grow the Indonesian business and further develop our distribution platform in Asia, which now spans nine countries.”