Aviation and Aerospace Leader

Company:

Marsh

Description:

We are seeking a talented individual to join the Specialties - Aviation team at Marsh. This role will be based in Cape Town, hybrid and has a requirement of working at least three days a week in the office.

We will count on you to

• Lead the aviation and aerospace [aviation] practice across Africa, establishing direct retail relationships with key aviation accounts while supporting Marsh's owned offices and network partners in the delivery of the aviation growth strategy.
• Direct management of the aviation P&L – having full responsibility for forecasting, budgeting and pipeline management. 
• Deliver a differentiated, integrated proposition combining Marsh aviation expertise with Oliver Wyman, Risk Consulting, Marsh Re to capture the full opportunity with aviation clients.
• Establish a clear talent and capability building strategy to develop local expertise across the continent
• Develop and execute a focused growth strategy prioritizing key African markets, industries, and sectors in the short and medium term to drive revenue delivery and profitability.
• Drive new business generation aligned with the Africa Aviation growth plan, with clear focus on key markets and revenue targets.
• Develop and maintain direct retail relationships with aviation accounts across the continent; personally manage major engagements, pitches, and client interactions.
• Support and coordinate existing Marsh offices and network partners across Africa, ensuring consistent service delivery, facilitating referrals, and driving mutual growth.
• Deliver integrated, differentiated solutions by combining Marsh broking with Oliver Wyman consulting, Marsh Re placement, and Mercer talent solutions; mobilize cross-functional teams to address complex client needs.
• Identify and coordinate local and global colleagues—including risk engineers, consultants, and specialists—to deliver comprehensive risk management solutions and capture expanded wallet share.
• Develop local insurance market engagement alongside potential reinsurance support for existing aviation business, positioning Marsh as a comprehensive solution provider in African aviation.
• Embed aviation consulting capability in account management; leverage data and analytics to provide informed advice and demonstrate differentiating value to clients.
• Oversee complex aviation accounts, coordinating go-to-market strategies and tailored solutions; foster innovation and value-added product development, including placement facilities and Fastrack.
• Full responsibility for forecasting, budgeting and pipeline management, reporting internally with transparency and accuracy

What you need to have

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field (ACII or Insurance Diploma a strong advantage)
• 10+ years’ experience in Aviation Insurance
• Fluent in both written and spoken English
• Advanced communication, presentation and training skills
• Energetic, self-motivated and result-oriented
• Proficiency with MS Office applications
• Sound knowledge of audit methods and internal control concepts, with the ability to assess business and technology risks
• Understand the aviation sub-sectors, including airlines, General Aviation, Airports and Airport concessionaires, Component Parts, Control Tower and ATC, Lessors, MROs, cargo operators, and government aviation. Each segment has a different buying process, risk profile, broker channel, and revenue potential. Understanding and balancing the segments will be key to succcess.
• Good understading of the major industry topics including; operational safety, cyber, ransomware, airport technology, war and political violence, supply-chain disruption, fleet transition, sustainability and sustainable aviation fuel, climate resilience, infrastructure development, contractual risk, and workforce risk.
• Ability to establish a country-level operating model defining referral process, placement, client servicing, claims, renewal management, and cross-business coordination. This is to drive the network to become a production platform
• Ability to use data and analytics to feed the production process including registered fleet data, airport data, current Marsh relationships, renewal dates, broker information, and travel routes.
• Ability to deliver a growth strategy that distinguishes between existing client retention and servicing, account recovery, prospecting and market development. These require different strategies, investment and measures of success.
• Ability to connect stakeholders, drive collaboration and growth, and fulfil the One Marsh objectives including coordinate Marsh Aviation, Marsh Africa, Oliver Wyman, Risk Advisory, Marsh Re, Mercer, Employee Benefits, insurance backed aircraft finance facilities, Cyber, Claims, and Contract Advisory around a single aviation-industry account plan.

Why join our team

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can work with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well-being.

What makes you stand out

• Growth mindset and self-starter mentality; demonstrated ability to establish new markets and build operations from the ground up.
• Strong understanding of aviation and aerospace insurance industry, market trends, emerging risks, and competitor positioning.
• Strategic business acumen and proven experience developing and executing growth strategies in emerging markets.
• Ability to build strong relationships across internal stakeholders (risk engineers, consultants, underwriters) and external partners (clients, carriers, network partners, industry bodies).
• Experience developing and leading high-performing teams; proven track record in talent development, training, and building capability.
• Proven success in business development, new client acquisition, and revenue growth in professional services or insurance.
• Experience working with partner networks and ecosystem models; ability to coordinate multiple organizational entities and deliver integrated solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; proficiency in navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments with tact and commercial awareness.

Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) is a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marsh.com, or follow us on LinkedIn and X.Marsh is committed to providing an inclusive work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best, most qualified people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are also committed to providing reasonable support to any candidate with a disability to allow them to fully participate in the recruitment process. We welcome candidates to contact us at [email protected] to discuss any specific needs.Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office-based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.