Tope Smart, the Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), has been appointed as the Vice President of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO).
The announcement was made during the recently concluded AIO’s 46th conference and annual general assembly which held in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to the announcement, Smart’s appointment took effect from Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
Nairametrics understands that Smart, who is also the Group Managing Director of NEM Insurance Plc, had been a board member of AIO’s executive committee.
Tope Smart’s profile: Smart is an Insurance graduate from the University of Lagos (1987). He is an Associate of both the Chartered Insurance Institute, London (ACII) 1990 and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (ACIIN) 1991. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka 2000.
A seasoned Underwriter and Marketer, he started his insurance career with Everyman Insurance Brokers in 1987. In recognition of his performance, he was recommended to head the Abuja branch of the firm but he chose to leave for Nigerian-French Insurance Company Limited in 1989 in order to widen his experience.
While there, Mr Smart served the company in various capacities and rose to the position of Head of Marine Unit before leaving for Perpetual Assurance Company Limited as one of the pioneer management staff in 1991. He became the company’s Assistant General Manager (Operations) before leaving to team up with Vigilant Insurance Company Limited as the General Manager/Chief Executive in 1995. He was later confirmed as the Managing Director of the company in 1997.
After Vigilant Insurance Company Limited merged and NEM Insurance Plc and company underwent a successful recapitalization exercise in 2007, Smart was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the new entity. He held the position until April 2009.
About AIO: The African Insurance Organisation (AIO) is a non-governmental organisation recognised by many African governments, including Cameroon which has signed a headquarters agreement with it and where it has set up its permanent secretariat. AIO was established in 1972.
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