Insurer FWD Life names Jose Cuisia as chairman

Former Ambassador to the United States, Jose L. Cuisia Jr., has been appointed as chairman of the board of FWD Life Philippines, the insurer said Thursday.

He is replacing Julian Lipman who has stepped down as chairman to assume a new role as FWD Group chief of staff, in addition to his group chief operating officer position at the company’s group office. 

Cuisia’s appointment took effect on January 24.

Cuisia served as the Philippine ambassador to the US from 2010 to 2016. He was also governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from 1990 to 1993, and administrator of the Social Security System from 1986 to 1990.

“We are truly honored that Ambassador Cuisia has [accepted] the role as chairman of the board. This is another step toward strengthening our game-changer position in the insurance industry,” said FWD Life president and CEO Peter Grimes.

“We want to continue our rapid expansion, with our customer-led approach, making insurance easier to understand for Filipinos, relevant to their lifestyles and providing the financial protection that they need,” he said.

Since June 2016, Cuisia was a member of the board and special advisor of the insurer.
The company said his insights, influence, and industry experience will be invaluable as he works closely with the management team to develop growth strategies for the FWD Life.

“In assuming the chairmanship, I look forward to continuing to support FWD’s vision of changing the way people feel about insurance by creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products and supported by digital technologies,” Cuisia said. —VDS, GMA News