Theo Scheffler

I am a qualified actuary and senior insurance executive with over two decades of international experience across life insurance, reinsurance, M&A, and financial leadership. I currently serve as Executive Head: Life MEA at Gallagher Re, where I lead life reinsurance strategy across the Middle East and Africa, advising insurers on capital efficiency, risk transfer, product structuring, and sustainable growth.

My expertise spans reinsurance structuring, balance sheet optimisation, capital management, and complex cross-border transactions. I work closely with insurers to design reinsurance solutions that enhance solvency positions, release capital, manage earnings volatility, and support strategic expansion. I bring deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, actuarial valuation, embedded value, and financial reporting across emerging and developed markets.

Previously, as Head of Risk & Actuarial at Constantia Insurance Company Limited, I oversaw enterprise risk, actuarial governance, and capital management, ensuring robust balance sheet strength and regulatory compliance.

During my tenure at MMI Holdings, I led international M&A activity, including acquisitions and disposals, contract negotiation, and transaction execution across multiple jurisdictions. As CFO of the international division, I directed financial planning, actuarial oversight, valuations, and strategic capital allocation.

Earlier in my career, I held senior leadership and statutory actuarial roles within Sanlam and its international subsidiaries, including serving as Appointed Actuary in India. These roles strengthened my expertise in product development, statutory valuation, financial reporting, and multi-country operations.

I combine actuarial rigor with commercial acumen, enabling me to bridge technical complexity and strategic execution. My leadership style is relationship-driven and outcomes-focused, with a consistent track record of delivering value through disciplined execution, structured negotiation, and sustainable partnership models.

I am always open to engaging with insurers, investors, and strategic partners on opportunities involving reinsurance optimisation, capital strategy, M&A, and growth initiatives across international markets.I am a qualified actuary and senior insurance executive with over two decades of international experience across life insurance, reinsurance, M&A, and financial leadership. I currently serve as Executive Head: Life MEA at Gallagher Re, where I lead life reinsurance strategy across the Middle East and Africa, advising insurers on capital efficiency, risk transfer, product structuring, and sustainable growth. My expertise spans reinsurance structuring, balance sheet optimisation, capital management, and complex cross-border transactions. I work closely with insurers to design reinsurance solutions that enhance solvency positions, release capital, manage earnings volatility, and support strategic expansion. I bring deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, actuarial valuation, embedded value, and financial reporting across emerging and developed markets. Previously, as Head of Risk & Actuarial at Constantia Insurance Company Limited, I oversaw enterprise risk, actuarial governance, and capital management, ensuring robust balance sheet strength and regulatory compliance. During my tenure at MMI Holdings, I led international M&A activity, including acquisitions and disposals, contract negotiation, and transaction execution across multiple jurisdictions. As CFO of the international division, I directed financial planning, actuarial oversight, valuations, and strategic capital allocation. Earlier in my career, I held senior leadership and statutory actuarial roles within Sanlam and its international subsidiaries, including serving as Appointed Actuary in India. These roles strengthened my expertise in product development, statutory valuation, financial reporting, and multi-country operations. I combine actuarial rigor with commercial acumen, enabling me to bridge technical complexity and strategic execution. My leadership style is relationship-driven and outcomes-focused, with a consistent track record of delivering value through disciplined execution, structured negotiation, and sustainable partnership models. I am always open to engaging with insurers, investors, and strategic partners on opportunities involving reinsurance optimisation, capital strategy, M&A, and growth initiatives across international markets.

Executive Head : Life MEA

Gallagher Re · Nov 2022 - Present

Skills: Benefits Negotiation · Actuarial Consulting · Contract Negotiation · Reinsurance · Actuarial Science

Head of Risk & Actuarial

Constantia Insurance Company Limited 2020 - Sep 2022

Chief Executive Officer

TaxTim - Aug 2019 - Sep 2020

M&A Principal

Momentum Metropolitan - Jun 2014 - Jul 2019

Chief Financial Officer (Metropolitan International)

Sep 2013 - Jul 2014

General Manager : Strategic Projects

MMI Holdings Jan 2013 - Jul 2013

Senior Manager

Sanlam Emerging Markets Apr 2011 - Dec 2012

I was entrusted (by the CEO of Africa) with all recently acquired companies and start-ups. My portfolio included Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, and Swaziland. Furthermore, I coordinated several collaboration efforts between all of the African subsidiaries, such as distribution techniques, product ideas and development, and general problem-solving. Lastly, I built and maintained effective relationships with minority shareholders and independent directors within businesses. I was entrusted (by the CEO of Africa) with all recently acquired companies and start-ups. My portfolio included Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, and Swaziland. Furthermore, I coordinated several collaboration efforts between all of the African subsidiaries, such as distribution techniques, product ideas and development, and general problem-solving. Lastly, I built and maintained effective relationships with minority shareholders and independent directors within businesses.

Appointed Actuary

Shriram Life Insurance Mar 2008 - Mar 2011

I relocated full time to India in order to be the Statutory Actuary of Sanlam’s Indian subsidiary (Shriram). I performed all actuarial work, while aligning the local company’s financial and actuarial practices. Furthermore, I confirmed reporting requirements of Sanlam.I relocated full time to India in order to be the Statutory Actuary of Sanlam’s Indian subsidiary (Shriram). I performed all actuarial work, while aligning the local company’s financial and actuarial practices. Furthermore, I confirmed reporting requirements of Sanlam.

African Life Assurance

Head - Client Solutions May 2006 - Feb 2008

I joined the business and headed up the Client Solutions portfolio, which was product development and implementation. I was tasked with leading the teams that developed products and interacted directly with distribution, including the participation in road shows to agents and brokers, In order to promote new products. I joined the business and headed up the Client Solutions portfolio, which was product development and implementation. I was tasked with leading the teams that developed products and interacted directly with distribution, including the participation in road shows to agents and brokers, In order to promote new products.

Sanlam

Product Actuary

2004 - Apr 2006

I was responsible for the product design for entry level market products within the company.I was responsible for the product design for entry level market products within the company.

Senior Annuity Consultant

2003 - 2004

I managed the annuity portfolio, and primarily visited pension funds and presented investment performances of underlying assets of the portfolio. (Sanlam Employee Benefits)I managed the annuity portfolio, and primarily visited pension funds and presented investment performances of underlying assets of the portfolio. (Sanlam Employee Benefits)

Senior Actuarial Consultant and Team Leader

2000 - 2003

I joined the Sanlam Consultants & Actuaries as a Senior Actuarial Student and was initially employed to check valuation work from junior students. Within 2 months one of the senior actuaries resigned and I took over his valuation portfolio. Later I led a team that performed UK Pensions review work (within Sanlam) and travelled to the UK to secure contracts, while undergoing training. furthermore, I led a team of 15 actuarial students and performed the review work in South Africa. After the pensions review work was completed, I led a small IT team within the department and created new valuation and data validation software.I joined the Sanlam Consultants & Actuaries as a Senior Actuarial Student and was initially employed to check valuation work from junior students. Within 2 months one of the senior actuaries resigned and I took over his valuation portfolio. Later I led a team that performed UK Pensions review work (within Sanlam) and travelled to the UK to secure contracts, while undergoing training. furthermore, I led a team of 15 actuarial students and performed the review work in South Africa. After the pensions review work was completed, I led a small IT team within the department and created new valuation and data validation software.

Actuarial Consultant

Jan 1997 - 2000

I was involved in manually calculating policy values for policies that could not be handled by the IT system. I moved to the demutualisation team and was responsible for share allocation to policy holders, and finally moved to the valuation team and performed the statutory valuation of Sanlam.

FIA - Fellow Institute of Actuaries (UK)

FASSA - Fellow Actuarial Society of South Africa

FIAI - Fellow Institute of Actuaries of India

B.Comm. (Mathemetics)

Post Graduate Dipoloma in Actuarial Studies