JLT has appointed Dominic Samengo-Turner as its new Asia CEO, as Duncan Howorth returns to the UK as CEO of the insurer’s employee benefits business.

Samengo-Turner will start his new role on May 1, 2015, after 20 years at Willis, most recently as co-chief executive of global specialities and director.

Howorth will end his two and half years at the head of JLT Asia on June 1, and take on the role left by Mark Wood, who will retire at the end of May.

Additionally, Ian Robinson, currently chief operating officer (COO) of JLT Asia, is returning to the UK to take up the position of COO of Thistle Insurance Services Limited, effective from July 1, and Warren Downey, currently CEO of JLT Specialty’s regional risk practice and trading division, is appointed deputy CEO (from May 1) and COO (from July 1) of JLT Asia.

Dominic Burke, JLT Group CEO says: “Duncan Howorth has done an outstanding job as CEO of JLT Asia over the last two and a half years in strengthening our market position across the region and in growing our employee benefits life assurance and healthcare businesses to represent nearly half of our revenues in Asia.

“Dominic Samengo-Turner is widely recognised across the industry for his deep specialty capabilities as well as his expertise and knowledge of placements, carrier relationships and the global insurance markets. I am delighted that we have been able to attract someone of his reputation and calibre to lead our Asian business and further develop our specialty capabilities, working alongside Tony Langridge and David Lum, executive chairman and deputy chairman respectively of JLT Asia.

“These changes mark another important step in JLT’s growth and development and indicate both the depth of talent within the organisation and our continued ability to attract some of the best people in the industry to join us and help drive our continued growth and momentum.”