QBE appoints technology innovator and industry veteran to bolster group board

Insurer QBE has appointed Tan Le and Eric Smith to its group board as non executive directors (NED).

Le is a technology innovator, entrepreneur and business executive and she is the founder and CEO of EMOTIV, a neuroinformatics company. EMOTIV leverages large scale brain data to build machine learning models that advance understanding of the brain to augment and enhance human performance. Le was previously co-founder and president of SASme, a wireless technology company. She has served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Technology for Mental Health; the Board of Stewards for Shaping the Future of Information; and Entertainment and Global Future Council on Neurotechnologies and Brain Science.

Her fellow QBE NED, Smith will bring more than 40 years of experience in insurance and financial services to the post. Until his retirement this year, Smith was president and CEO at Swiss Re Americas, and a member of Swiss Re's Group Executive Committee. He was previously president of USAA Life Insurance Co, and president, Allstate Financial Services, Allstate's business unit that distributes life insurance, annuities and other financial products. He has also worked in various roles in property and casualty insurance with Country Financial for more than 20 years.

Mike Wilkins, chairman of the QBE Group board, said: “As we accelerate our digital transformation and seek to build best in class data, AI and digital capabilities, Tan will bring invaluable insight and perspective to our strategic discussions. She is an outstanding leader in her field and I very much look forward to her contribution.

“Eric has enjoyed an outstanding executive career in the insurance industry and financial services sector in the US. His appointment will further deepen the insurance expertise of the QBE board and we will benefit from the fresh perspective Eric will bring to the emerging trends, challenges and opportunities ahead.”