Global insurer QBE has strengthened its leadership team in Asia with the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer and a regional Head of Data, Analytics and AI, reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence, digital transformation and responsible artificial intelligence across the region.

Effective immediately, Patrick Karlowski has joined QBE as Chief Operating Officer for Asia, based in Hong Kong. He succeeds Klaas Dijkstra, who has been appointed Chief Information Officer for QBE International.

Karlowski will report to Nathan Fuller, Chief Operations Officer, International, while maintaining a reporting line to Asia Chief Executive Rob Kosova.

Driving Operational Transformation

Karlowski brings more than 20 years of experience across the insurance, financial services and telecommunications sectors. Throughout his career, he has led large-scale operational businesses across Asia and Europe and overseen the global rollout of digital insurance distribution and servicing platforms.

As Chief Operating Officer for Asia, he will lead the region’s operations, business strategy and transformation agenda, with responsibility for improving operational efficiency, strengthening collaboration across business units and supporting QBE’s long-term growth through innovation and enhanced customer service.

Expanding Data and AI Capabilities

QBE has also appointed Florence Chan as Head of Data, Analytics and AI for Asia. She will join the business on July 13 and will be based in Hong Kong.

Chan brings more than two decades of experience in data analytics, financial services, technology and business transformation, with expertise spanning regulatory reporting, governance frameworks and artificial intelligence implementation.

She will report to Group Head of Data, Analytics and AI Shrenik Dagli, with a dotted reporting line to Karlowski.

In her new role, Chan will lead QBE Asia’s regional data and analytics function, overseeing the execution of the insurer’s data and AI strategy. Her responsibilities include advancing data-driven decision-making, strengthening governance frameworks and supporting the responsible adoption of AI across the business.

Supporting Regional Growth

Commenting on the appointments, Asia Chief Executive Rob Kosova said the new executives would play a key role in strengthening QBE’s competitive position across the region.

He highlighted Karlowski’s expertise in operational excellence, digitalisation and automation, alongside Chan’s experience in building advanced data capabilities and delivering deeper risk insights for customers and business partners.

The appointments reflect QBE’s continued investment in technology, operational transformation and artificial intelligence as insurers across Asia increasingly leverage data and AI to improve underwriting, customer experience and business performance.