Directors
MAIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MICHAEL LEWIS
Non-Executive Chairman
Michael began his insurance career at Hosken Insurance Brokers in 1958. He was transferred to London in 1960 to work at the Lloyds Brokers Morice Tozer and Beck. In 1963 he was appointed General Manager of The Incorporated General Insurance Company Ltd. He subsequently became the Managing Director and then the Chairman. In 1973 he was appointed Chairman of Hosken Consolidated Investments, which was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. At the time he was the youngest chairman of any listed company on the Exchange. He was appointed Chairman of Richardson Hosken Ltd, the first South African owned Lloyds Broking company. Michael was a founder of and director of Investec Bank for twenty years being its Chairman for the first six years. Michael served as chairman of the South African Insurance Association and is currently Chairman of Global Alliance.
ANDREW LEWIS
Managing Director
Andrew started his career with IGI Insurance Company in South Africa as management trainee in 1988. He moved to IGI Botswana in 1990. In 1991 he left Botswana and moved to England where he attended the CII College of Insurance, qualifying with an ACII. After completing his studies, Andrew worked in the London Market firstly as a London market underwriter and then as a director of a Lloyd's Broking firm. After six years in the London market, Andrew left England and returned to South Africa to start the Baronscourt Group. Andrew is currently a Managing Director of the Baronscourt Group, Global Alliance CGSM Mozambique,GA Angola Seguros, Global Alliance Ghana and a Director of Kindle Insurance Technologies.
ROBERT LEWIS
Executive Director
Robert began his career in 1990 when he joined Irish and Company Stock Brokers. In 1994 he became one of the youngest members of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and was subsequently made a partner of the enlarged firm of Irish Menell Rosenburg. In 1998 Robert sold his 26% shareholding of Irish Menell Rosenburg to the Appleton Group. Robert started South Africa's first on line Stock Broker called U-Trade in January 1999. U-Trade was merged with the Appleton Group in January 2001 in a deal which formed South Africa's largest private client Stock Broker. The transaction resulted in Robert selling his 49% share holding in U-Trade. In 2001 Robert bought 100% of CGSM Holdings, which in turned owned 95% of CGSM S.A.R.L. Robert is on the board of Global Alliance Holdings, Global Alliance CGSM, GA Angola Seguros, Selene Re-insurance, Global Alliance Ghana, Baronscourt, Kindle Insurance Technologies and acts as a non-executive director of Elements advertising company.
DAVID THOMAS
Financial Director
David started his working career with the audit firm Irish Smither & Co., which later merged with the firm Rheimer and Waterson, currently known as RW Irish. After completing his articles, David left the auditing profession to join Irish Menell Rosenburg Stock Brokers, currently known as Appleton Securities, as their Financial Manager. Andrew and Robert Lewis approached him in September 2002 to join Global Alliance as their Financial Director. David sits on the board of Global Alliance CGSM, Baronscourt , Kindle Insurance technologies and sits on the Audit committee of GA Angola Seguros , Global Alliance CGSM and Global Alliance Ghana.
IAN TOFIELD
Non-Executive Director
Ian started his career in insurance in 1955 with Legal and General Assurance society where he spent 22 years. In that time he worked in the fire and accident department in London, he was seconded to Ghana and also became assistant general manager of the subsidiary Guinea Insurance company in Nigeria. In 1978 Ian joined the Munich Re-insurance company where he initially opened and managed a regional office based in The Ivory Coast and was responsible for non-life operations in West Africa, from Mauritania to Angola. In 1983 he was recalled to the head office in Munich as the manager of the African non-life portfolio. In 1995 Ian was seconded to Munich Re-Insurance company of Africa, Johannesburg to manage the transferred sub-Saharan African portfolio. In 2002 Ina retired from the Munich Re-insurance company and has undertaken missions on behalf of London Re-insurance brokers and South African Insurers. Ian specialised in Latin, Greek, French and German at secondary school. Global Alliance is very fortunate to have a non-executive director of the calibre of Ian Tofield on its board of directors which he joined in 2003.
EDWARD MENSAH
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Edward Mensah is a banker turned insurer. He started his insurance career in 1959 with Ghana Insurance Company. He was seconded to the Provincial insurance company, London in 1960. he qualified as an ACII in 1967 and returned from the UK to Join SIC, first in the accident department then as claims manager. He rose to the position of chief departmental manager, Assistant to the technical adviser and finally to executive director. He is a founding member of the WAICA, of the AIO and FAIR.
During the establishment of Ghana re in 1972 he was assigned sole responsibility to develop the Reinsurance company within the SIC, which he did with commendable distinction. This success guaranteed him the unassailable credentials for the position of the first and founding Chief Executive officer and head of mission (diplomatic) of the African Reinsurance Corporation when established in 1977. He successfully completed his first tour of 5 years which was then renewed for a further term. In 1984 he became a consultant for Africa for both Swiss re of Zurich and Willis Faber of London. In 1988 Mr. Mensah established his own brokerage and consulting company Edward Mensah and Associates, which is now Edward Mensah Wood and Associates.
Mr Mensah has also served in many international and regional institutions. In 1973 he was appointed insurance expert consultant to the UN committee on trade development (UNCTAD) in Geneva and participated in studies on reinsurance problems in developing countries. He was also Director of ‘Shelter Afric’, a subsidiary company of the ADB and the Africa reinsurance corporation. He was one of the first African Reinsurance experts to be invited by the Swiss Re to deliver a paper at the Swiss reinsurance training centre in Zurich.
Mr.Mensah is currently the President of the insurance institute of Ghana and a past board member of the N.I.C
GEORGE K.A. OFOSU-AMAAH
Non-Executive Director
