Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Software
Timeline
Generic
Isheanesu Wadaya

Isheanesu Wadaya

Head Of Strategic Market Development
Cape Town,Western Cape

Summary

Experienced reinsurance professional with a BSc Honours in Mathematics from Wits University, South Africa. Over the past 10 years, I have developed expertise in treaty reinsurance, focusing on building profitable portfolios and achieving a balance between growth objectives and return on investment for shareholders. Business development capabilities, client management skills, and effective negotiation abilities have allowed successful navigation of the industry. Commercially astute and well-versed in underwriting principles, actuarial pricing, claims, reserving, and portfolio management. Extensive knowledge of the South African, Middle Eastern, African, South-East Asian, and Indian reinsurance markets. Handled over 200 reinsurance contracts and managed a portfolio of $45m in gross written premium. Led a team of 2 underwriters, 2 analysts, and a business development manager. Passionate about training and developing skills in the reinsurance space. Innovative leader who motivates teams to deliver effective solutions and achieve high performance levels. Driven to implement strategic objectives while streamlining processes for success.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
2026
2026
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications

Work History

Head of Strategic Market Development

Klapton Re
Lusaka
10.2024 - 04.2025
  • Identify market trends, risk factors, and emerging opportunities.
  • Assess competitors and analyze industry shifts to shape business strategies.
  • Use data analytics to evaluate market penetration and potential growth areas.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with insurers, brokers, and key stakeholders.
  • Develop tailored reinsurance solutions to meet client needs.
  • Negotiate and structure complex reinsurance agreements.
  • Formulate long-term market entry and expansion strategies.
  • Drive initiatives for geographic or product-line diversification.
  • Collaborate with underwriting, actuarial, and risk teams to align strategies.
  • Identify and develop new reinsurance products in response to market demands.
  • Leverage technology and data-driven insights for product enhancement.
  • Adapt to regulatory changes and industry shifts to create innovative solutions.
  • Work closely with internal teams, including underwriting, finance, and claims.
  • Establish partnerships with insurtech companies, brokers, and regulatory bodies.
  • Represent the company at industry conferences, forums, and networking events.

Cluster Market Head (Middle East & Africa)

Santam Re
11.2021 - 09.2024
  • Develop inward reinsurance portfolio in the MEA region within defined Framework.
  • Underwriting and pricing treaty reinsurance contracts.
  • Managing a team of underwriters and analysts in order to achieve desired portfolio outcomes.
  • Business Development to generate growth.
  • Maintaining client relationships and fostering long term partnerships.
  • Working with the actuary to determine reserve adequacy on a portfolio level.
  • Claims management.
  • Training.
  • Implementation of underwriting processes and systems to ensure efficiency.
  • Strategy development.

Senior Manager Reinsurance

Old Mutual Insure
03.2021 - 11.2021
  • Responsible for making sure reinsurance coverage is suitable for the different divisions.
  • Negotiating treaty reinsurance terms with reinsurers.
  • Advise Risk Financing division on best reinsurance structures.
  • Optimising reinsurance structures and cost.
  • Train personnel on reinsurance.

Underwriter (Middle East & Africa)

Santam Re
10.2018 - 03.2020
  • Reinsurance market research & analysis.
  • Pricing reinsurance contracts.
  • Fostering business relationships with brokers & Insurance companies.
  • Reinsurance accounting.
  • Mathematical modelling.
  • Formulating strategy around treaty business.
  • Client management.
  • Negotiating treaty terms.
  • Optimising inwards reinsurance portfolio.

Reinsurance Underwriting Analyst

Santam Re
03.2017 - 09.2018
  • Reinsurance market research & analysis.
  • Pricing reinsurance contracts.
  • Reinsurance accounting.
  • Mathematical modelling.

Junior Risk Analyst

Sanlam Investments
02.2016 - 03.2017
  • Involved in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) & reporting risk profiles for each business unit to the Chief Risk Officer (Sanlam Investments).
  • Creating and implementing Risk management methodologies including risk management in projects.
  • Creating risk registers for different business units.
  • Risk training for the Sanlam Investments business cluster.
  • Analyse risk tolerance & appetite in each of the business units.

Education

Master of Science - Artificial Intelligence

University of York
9 2022 - Current

BSc Honours - Mathematics

University of the Witwatersrand
01.2015 - 12 2015

BSc - Mathematics, Computational & Applied Mathematics and Economic Science

University of the Witwatersrand
01.2012 - 12 2014

Skills

Value diversity and Inclusion

Detail oriented and analytical

Process engineering

Strategic decision maker

undefined

Certification

National Certificate in Financial Markets and Instruments, Hedge Fund Academy (South Africa), 01/01/16, 12/31/16

Software

Python

Java

SQL

Timeline

Head of Strategic Market Development

Klapton Re
10.2024 - 04.2025

Cluster Market Head (Middle East & Africa)

Santam Re
11.2021 - 09.2024

Senior Manager Reinsurance

Old Mutual Insure
03.2021 - 11.2021

Underwriter (Middle East & Africa)

Santam Re
10.2018 - 03.2020

Reinsurance Underwriting Analyst

Santam Re
03.2017 - 09.2018

Junior Risk Analyst

Sanlam Investments
02.2016 - 03.2017

BSc Honours - Mathematics

University of the Witwatersrand
01.2015 - 12 2015

BSc - Mathematics, Computational & Applied Mathematics and Economic Science

University of the Witwatersrand
01.2012 - 12 2014

Master of Science - Artificial Intelligence

University of York
9 2022 - Current
Isheanesu WadayaHead Of Strategic Market Development