Head of Corporate Life and Pensions

Summary

At Zurich Middle East, we’re committed to shaping a brighter future together. As part of Zurich Insurance Group, one of the world’s largest and most experienced insurers, our mission is to help communities understand and protect themselves from risk—locally and globally. Join us in Dubai to lead the region’s most ambitious corporate life and pension business, delivering innovative protection solutions for affluent and high-net-worth clients. 

As Head of Corporate Life and Pension Business, you will be at the forefront of shaping Zurich’s strategy for corporate life and pension solutions in the Middle East. This role is designed for a leader with exceptional, proven international expertise, developed across multiple markets, regions, jurisdictions, and geographies. Your global perspective will be crucial for driving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and strategic transformation within our business. 

You bring hands-on experience from a diverse range of insurance markets worldwide, beyond the Middle East, enabling you to anticipate challenges and deliver solutions that meet global standards while respecting local nuances. Your background includes substantial time in corporate center or Group roles within a multinational environment, equipping you to translate international best practices into actionable strategies across all business functions. Your deep understanding of international insurance markets and leadership across varied regions will empower you to position Zurich as the trusted protection specialist for corporate clients. You will champion a customer-first culture, inspire innovation, and lead sales development, talent management, and strategic change initiatives. 

This role requires a collaborative leader who works closely with the CEO, management team, and distribution partners to deliver Zurich’s vision. If you are driven by a global mindset and can leverage broad international experience to achieve strategic objectives and sustainable success, we invite you to join us. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership 

• Shape and execute Zurich’s strategy for the corporate life and pension business, ensuring alignment with global standards while addressing local priorities in the Middle East.  
• Lead key business projects and change activities, leveraging international best practices to drive success.  
• Foster a culture of innovation, sustainability, and customer centricity, consistently positioning Zurich as a trusted partner for corporate clients.  

Business Development & Sales 

• Develop, implement, and optimize sales distribution strategies and steering concepts that reflect Zurich’s global approach while meeting local market needs. 
• Drive sales performance, growth, and profitability, ensuring resources are managed efficiently and within budget. 
• Position Zurich Global Life as the leading protection specialist for affluent and high-net-worth individuals in the region. 
• Define and manage alternative distribution models, proactively adapting to market opportunities and constraints. 

Project & Change Management 

• Lead cross-functional projects and change initiatives that span multiple business units, ensuring effective collaboration and alignment.
• Apply and adapt international best practices to suit local needs, leveraging your global expertise to deliver impactful results.  
• Oversee the successful implementation of key strategic projects, supporting Zurich’s long-term goals in the region. 

Stakeholder & Talent Management 

• Build and nurture relationships with key distributors—including Financial Advisors, Independent Financial Advisors, and Banks—to reinforce Zurich’s position as a trusted protection specialist for corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals. 
• Collaborate with industry bodies, such as LIA, representing Zurich and helping to shape sector developments through global best practices and insights. 
• Partner with the CEO and HR Business Partner to acquire, retain, and develop talent, leveraging international experience to meet current and future business needs. 
• Support proposition development by translating customer and distributor feedback into actionable strategies that drive innovation and sustainable growth. 

Regulatory & Industry Engagement 

• Monitor regulatory trends across markets, incorporating relevant insights into sales and business strategies to ensure Zurich remains adaptable and compliant. 
• Actively participate in industry forums, keeping Zurich at the forefront of market developments and leveraging international perspectives to drive strategic advantage. 

Job Qualifications

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Economics, Insurance, or related field. 
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in life insurance, pensions, or financial services, with strong background in sales, business development, and project management expertise.
• Fluency in English; additional market-relevant languages are an advantage. 
• Strong distributor and stakeholder relationship management skills (Financial Advisors, Independent Financial Advisors, Banks). 
• Substantial international experience:  

• • Demonstrated experience operating in multiple regions, markets, jurisdictions, and geographies beyond the Middle East. 
  • Significant exposure to international best practices, ideally gained through roles in a corporate center or Group-level function within a global company. 
  • Leadership experience managing teams in multinational or complex environments, with cross-border responsibilities. 
  • Proven track record in developing and executing sales and distribution strategies for cross-market or international regions. 
  • Experience leading cross-functional, cross-border projects and change management initiatives. 

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or MBA. 
• Professional insurance or pension certification (e.g. Chartered Insurance Institute, CFA, or equivalent). 

Skills and Competencies: 

• Deep knowledge of life insurance, pension products, distribution models, and relevant global regulatory frameworks. 
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and results-oriented approach. 
• Proven ability to adapt and apply international standards to local contexts, using cross-market insights to drive innovation. 
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, able to engage and influence across cultures and organizational levels. 
• Strong analytical capability—translating global market insights into practical strategies. 
• Advanced organizational and project management skills, with experience coordinating cross-border, cross-functional teams. 
• Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and lead diverse teams, fostering collaboration and inclusion. 
• Talent management experience in acquisition, retention, and development of international and multicultural teams. 
• Proficiency with digital tools and understanding of digital transformation in insurance. 
• Proactive and adaptable approach, thriving in a fast-paced, evolving global environment. 
• Deep customer focus, committed to delivering solutions for diverse clients and markets. 

Additional Requirements:

• Willingness to travel as needed for business and industry engagement.