(Credit: Clemens Philippi) 

Introduction of Profile: Clemens Philippi considers himself fortunate to have turned his interest in and passion for the people and cultures of the Asia-Pacific region into his profession. 

Having studied at universities in Germany, Japan and the United States, Clemens earned a bachelor’s degree in Asia-Pacific Studies and a master’s degree in Japanese Studies, complemented by minors in Business Administration and Political Science. An unexpected opportunity in the early 2000s introduced him to the world of insurance, allowing him to apply his academic background in his professional life every day.  

More than two decades later, Clemens serves as CEO of MSIG Asia, the leading general insurance group in Singapore and ASEAN, as well as Chief Strategy Officer for the International Business of MS&AD Insurance Group, Japan’s largest insurer. 

Along the way, he has witnessed the transformation of Asia’s insurance landscape while cooperating as enthusiastic supporter with PARIMA and helping corporations to strengthen resilience in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. 

An Unexpected Start in Insurance 

In the early 2000s, after exciting and happy student years in Germany, Japan and United States, Clemens was set to top up his master’s degree with a PhD in Japanese studies, when a Luxembourg-based risk finance consulting firm was looking for someone with deep knowledge and passion for Japan to support and grow its Japanese client portfolio.  

Having lived in Japan and built many wonderful friendships and experiences, Clemens felt indebted and motivated to give back through his work for the Japanese market and decided to apply. 

Originally, he was doubtful whether he would pass the interview.  

“The night before the interview I told my mum, ‘I’m going to this interview tomorrow just to see how it works. If no chance, I will continue with my PhD plans,’” he recalls.  

The interview went better than he had expected, and Clemens accepted an offer from the Luxembourg-based consultancy. His first assignments brought him in close contact with actuaries and modellers to scrutinise the data and risk profiles of Japanese blue-chip companies and advise them on self-retention strategies including captive structures in domiciles like Switzerland, Bermuda, Dublin, Luxembourg and Guernsey.  

The role gave him early exposure to complex corporate risks and introduced him to the critical role that insurance plays in helping organisations manage uncertainty. It also taught Clemens to appreciate data, analytics and the actuarial profession. Listening deeply to clients’ needs to tailor the most suitable solutions was key for him to be a successful consultant. 

Looking back, Clemens sees that interview in Luxembourg as the defining pivotal point in his life.  

“Depending on the outcome that day, I might have returned to academia, completed my PhD in Japanese Studies, and be teaching at a university somewhere in my home country of Germany. Instead, I was able to enter and grow in an industry that is crucial to economic development anywhere in the world. Without insurance, no ships move and no planes fly. For infrastructure projects, insurance is the glue between equity and debt. The importance and purpose of this 350-year-old financial product is truly fascinating once you start thinking about it,” he says. 

A Journey Across Continents and Enthusiasm for PARIMA 

Clemens’s career has taken him from Germany to Luxembourg, London, Tokyo and eventually Singapore, where he now leads MSIG Asia’s regional operations across 15 markets with close to 10,000 employees. 

Although his years in London exposed him to the birthplace of insurance and one of the world’s most advanced and innovative insurance markets, it was Asia that fundamentally reshaped how he viewed risk, risk management and—what he calls—risk leadership. 

He recalls 2011 as a defining year for Asia. The Great East Japan Earthquake and the Thailand floods, which followed an early Christchurch earthquake, exposed significant protection gaps across the region for corporate and commercial clients particularly around supply chain resilience, i.e. contingent business interruption. The events reinforced the importance of developing more sophisticated insurance solutions and improving organisations’ understanding of risk. It also convinced Clemens that Asia needed a risk management association similar to FERMA in Europe or RIMS in the United States. 

“2011 as annus horribilis demonstrated across the region that we need to heighten the quality of risk engineering and insurance coverage to make Asian companies globally competitive and bring them to the same protection level as their European and American peers. When PARIMA emerged as a force to promote this goal, I was enthusiastic and fully committed to providing whatever support I could,” he explains. 

Beyond the major events of 2011, Asia’s diversity and complexity have also shaped Clemens’ leadership philosophy. 

“The region sharpens your ability to deal with complexity in real time,” he says. “You cannot lead Asia with a one-size-fits-all approach. Context matters in every market. Listening and adapting approaches while staying firm on message and strategy are key.” 

Today, from his base in Singapore, he sees the city-state as an ideal platform for connecting diverse markets, talent and perspectives from across the region. Leading across Asia, he believes, requires balancing consistent principles with flexible execution. 

Leadership Through Partnership 

(Credit: MSIG Asia) 

Since relocating to Singapore, Clemens has embraced what he describes as a servant leadership philosophy. 

“Every colleague in the MSIG Asia regional management office has one clear mission: to create value for those colleagues in the front line representing MSIG as ambassadors to customers, partners and regulators across our dynamic markets spanning ASEAN, India, Hong Kong and Oceania. Regional functional leaders should be servant leaders to those colleagues and act as part of one team working towards one goal,” he says. 

That same philosophy extends beyond his own organisation. Clemens believes the strongest outcomes are achieved when insurers, brokers and risk managers work together as long-term partners, sharing information openly, building trust and collaborating to address evolving risks. 

He advocates for a healthy tripartite relationship, where direct conversations between insurers, brokers and risk managers help build trust, improve understanding and ultimately deliver better outcomes. 

“When underwriters can sit directly with risk managers and ask questions, they can build confidence and achieve clarity which usually leads to better pricing, stronger coverage and more valuable risk engineering advice,” he says.  

His view of this tripartite partnership is closely tied to how he sees the role of modern risk managers. 

“Today’s risk leaders need to be translators of complexity, connectors across silos and enablers of progress,” he says. “Risk leadership is about helping organisations make better decisions and turning risks to opportunities, not simply limiting or managing risk.” 

Looking ahead, he believes innovation cannot come from insurers alone. 

“We insurers need the input and frank feedback from risk managers on a partnership basis to help us innovate and develop new products for emerging risks. Risk managers and insurers need each other as we feed off each other. Hence, a partnership is needed –– tripartite together with brokers” he says. 

Curiosity Will Define the Next Generation 

Looking ahead, Clemens believes tomorrow’s risk leaders will need more than technical or insurance procurement expertise and hopes they recognise the broader value that insurance brings to their organisations and, more broadly, to society. 

As AI, data analytics and emerging technologies continue to reshape risk management, as they are reshaping every profession, risk leaders’ curiosity and adaptability will become increasingly important for success. 

At the same time, Clemens emphasises the increasing interconnectedness of the regional and global risk landscape. Climate risks, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions and cyber threats are no longer isolated challenges but are becoming increasingly interconnected and continue to influence one another. 

“Risk today is less about isolated events and more about how risks interact,” he says. “The speed and complexity of disruption continue to increase, making resilience more important than ever.” 

He also believes insurers must continue evolving from claims payers into long-term risk partners, helping clients build resilience. 

“Insurers must anticipate emerging risks and prepare mitigation measures before losses occur. In the current volatile environment, everyone in our industry can be proud of working in insurance as we jointly contribute to a steadier world. For aspiring risk leaders, I encourage them to stay curious, remain open-minded, and continue learning,” he says. 

Life Beyond Insurance  

Away from work, Clemens’ lifelong passion remains football. 

A former university scholarship athlete in the United States, he once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer before an injury changed his path.  

Today, that passion continues as he volunteers as a football coach for his boys and their friends. He and his wife spend many weekends watching their boys’ games, often travelling with them to far away tournaments in Asia and Europe. 

One lesson, however, has stayed with him throughout every stage of his career. 

(Credit: Clemens Philippi) 

During his student exchange in Osaka nearly three decades ago, his host family shared a simple Japanese proverb that still hangs in his office today: 

“If you work hard, good things will come.” 

For Clemens, it is more than a motto. It reflects the mindset that has guided his career and leadership philosophy. 

That same belief is echoed in another principle that he continues to champion – “attitude”. In fact, he shares that every employee at MSIG Asia receives a small plaque bearing the word “Attitude” as a reminder that growth begins with the right mindset. 

“I am a big fan of Pastor Charles R. Swindoll’s perspective on attitude. He summed it up by saying that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. In MSIG Asia, we apply this mentality as our business mantra,” he says. 

Whether it is embracing an unexpected opportunity, leading teams across diverse markets, or helping organisations navigate an increasingly complex risk environment, Clemens believes that curiosity, hard work and the right attitude are what ultimately drive meaningful progress.