Sanjeev Jha

About Sanjeev Jha

I began my insurance career in 1987 with the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), then India’s sole reinsurer and parent of the four public sector general insurers. After joining as a direct-recruit in the generalist cadre and completing formal training, I was posted to the head office. A few years later, I moved to Oriental Insurance—during the early phase of India’s liberalisation, when the industry was just beginning to open up. Over time, GIC evolved into the focused reinsurer we now know as GIC Re.Between 1994 and 1998, I briefly stepped away to work in investments and economic analysis, before returning to the private insurance sector. I helped establish Cholamandalam MS General Insurance, one of India’s earliest private insurers, and as Business Head (Retail), helped grow it from concept to a licensed, nationwide operation.In 2003, I joined Royal Sundaram as Head of Retail, Distribution & Strategy, stepping in as the founding expat team transitioned out. I led affinity partnerships—particularly with motor manufacturers—and worked closely with RSA teams in London and Dubai. In 2005, I was appointed CEO of RSA Oman, my first international and CEO role, which also gave me early exposure to M&A through the acquisition and merger of Al Ahlia Insurance.In 2015, Fairfax invited me to lead a turnaround in Sri Lanka. We rebuilt the business, merged with another local insurer, and created Fairfirst Insurance. After several years abroad, my wife and I returned to India in 2021, where I continue to work with Fairfax Asia as a consultant—supporting teams across strategy, proposition development, strategic business reviews, reinsurance structuring, and leadership development.Over the past few years, I have also had the privilege of serving as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Nations Trust Bank (Sri Lanka), Jaynix Engineering, and Maxop Engineering, all high-quality organisations with strong teams delivering purposeful, profitable growth.Across my career, I have worked with large institutions and start-ups, across developed and emerging markets. I have led turnarounds, managed M & As, supported boards, and helped build enduring value. This journey continues to evolve—and keeps rewarding those who strive to build it right.

Experience

1. Consultant

   Newline Group

   Aug 2025 — Present · Mumbai, IN

   Newline Group is a market leading specialty insurance group that operates through three underwriting platforms, Newline Syndicate 1218 at Lloyd’s, Newline Insurance Company Limited and Newline Europe Versicherung AG. Headquartered in London, with offices in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and Latin America, Newline Group underwrites international casualty, cargo and specialty lines of business in more than 80 countries around the world. Newline Group is part of the Odyssey Group, a leading worldwide underwriter of reinsurance and specialty insurance. Odyssey Group is a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. For more information, visit newlinegroup.com.

Education

• St Columba's School, New Delhi

  ICSE

  1972 — 1979

• University of Mumbai

  MA, Economics

  1982 — 1984

• Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business

  PFE, Business

  1999 — 1999

• University of Mumbai

  Ph.D, Economics

  1988 — 1992

• St. Xavier's College

  BA, Economics

  1979 — 1982

• Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

  Executive Education, Fintech

  2017 — 2017

Skills

• Business Development
• Negotiation
• Marketing Management
• Management
• Team Building
• Risk Management
• Team Management
• Strategy
• Shareholder
• Jvs
• Leadership
• Executive Management
• Fintech
• Management Consulting
• Business Planning
• Full P&L Responsibility
• Analysis
• General Insurance
• New Business Development
• Sales Management
• Brokers
• Board Leadership
• Marketing Strategy
• Business Strategy
• Portfolio Management
• Mergers
• Start-Ups
• Insurance
• Recruiting
• P&L Management
• Governance
• Underwriting
• Distribution
• Relationship Management
• Strategic Planning
• Business Analysis
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Reinsurance
• Change Management
• Claim