Guy Carpenter appoints head of Turkish operations

Reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter has appointed Okan Utkueri as managing director and head of the firm’s operations in Turkey.

Utkueri will be based in Istanbul and will be responsible for all of the firm’s activities in the region. He will report to Massimo Reina, chief executive officer of Continental Europe & MENA.

Utkueri has over 22 years of experience in the Turkish insurance market. Prior to joining Guy Carpenter, he was chief executive officer of Turkey-based insurance firm Eureko Sigorta, a position which he held for over seven years. He has also been a board member of the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool, the Turkish Agricultural Insurance Pool Management Company and the Association of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies.

Reina said: “We are delighted to be announcing that Okan will be spear-heading our drive to further develop and enhance our operations in Turkey. His extensive industry experience spans all aspects of the Turkish insurance market and has enabled him to build the levels of trust and understanding that are essential to building long-term, productive client relationships.”

Nick Frankland, chief executive officer of EMEA Operations at Guy Carpenter, added: “Turkey has witnessed a period of strong economic growth in recent years, creating significant opportunities for the reinsurance sector to play an increasingly prominent role. At Guy Carpenter, we are committed to expanding our local presence, helping our clients in the region capitalize on the full breadth and depth of capabilities we offer – and in his new role, Okan will play an integral part in this.”