Lockton looks to Willis Towers Watson Brazil CEO to drive LatAm expansion

Independent insurance broker Lockton has appointed José Otávio De Albuquerque Sampaio as the new CEO of its Brazilian operations.

Sampaio brings 31 years of experience in insurance to Lockton. He joins from Willis Towers Watson Brazil where he was CEO for the last 11 years. He is said to have developed extensive experience in risk assessment, programme placement, operational risk management, and global insurance programmes, both in property & casualty and employee health & benefits.

Sampaio takes on the role from Tony Gusmao who led Lockton Brazil for the past seven years and whose departure and move to Europe had been planned earlier. Lockton appointed two senior Latin America & Caribbean executives, Andrew Perry (CEO) and Ed Fyfe (deputy CEO) at the end of 2019, and promoted Marcela Flores (regional employee benefits), effective from May 2020, to form the Lockton Regional LatAm Executive.

In his new role, Sampaio will oversee the direction of Lockton Brazil as the business strengthens its commitment to expanding in the Latin America & Caribbean region. The broker said his experience will be "invaluable as Lockton transitions into its next phase of growth and strategic development". This will include additional investment to build on the existing talent and capability in Brazil.

Neil Nimmo, Lockton International CEO said: “I am delighted to welcome José Otávio to Lockton. He is a senior and strategically important hire for the business. José Otávio has far reaching insurance experience and will strengthen our existing capability while also leading Lockton’s growth in Brazil.

“I would like to express my thanks to Tony Gusmao for his considerable efforts to build an excellent and growing business over the past seven years. He leaves a strong legacy from which we can build. We wish him well in his future endeavours as he continues his career in Europe.”

Andrew Perry, CEO of Lockton Latin America & Caribbean, commented: “José Otávio joins at an important time for Lockton in Brazil and in Latin America. We are now capitalising on our unique status in the region as the only top five, private global independent broker and are seizing the opportunity to invest and grow.

“José Otávio will work closely with our associates and key partners across Latin America to ensure strategic growth and development. At the same time, we will continue to add resource to the region as we expand our footprint.”

Sampaio said: “Lockton is an entrepreneurial yet established business and I am excited to embark on this new opportunity. I look forward to working with Andrew, the Lockton Regional LatAm Executive and the team in Brazil, developing Lockton’s insurance expertise, so that it can capitalise on the significant opportunities present in the region.”