Executive Management Team | OLEA Insurance Solutions

OLEA South Africa - Executive Management

VINCENT DE CHARNACÉ

Chairman

Olea South Africa

VINCENT DE CHARNACÉ

Vincent began his career in 2005 as a consultant at Aon Global Risk Consulting in Europe. He worked on risk mapping, business continuity planning and crisis management for major European and African companies in various sectors but predominantly in Telecom, IT and Logistics.

He joined Gras Savoye – Willis to set up operations in East Africa (Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda). After a couple of years of a successful deployment, he was seconded to Willis South Africa to look after all inward business placed throughout the continent. He had to manage multinational accounts, and international programmes and ensure that all compliance/local regulations are respected. In 2017, Vincent joined OLEA to lead the expansion in East and Southern Africa.

His client experience includes Bolloré, Orange, Airtel, CFAO, Microsoft, Djibouti Telecom, MTN, Total, Air Liquide, Ecobank, BOA, Oryx Energy, Kasada, and Diageo.

Qualifications:

Postgraduate degree in Strategy and Business Intelligence
Master’s degree in Management (with honours)

RICHARD HOOD

Chief Executive Officer

Olea South Africa

RICHARD HOOD

Since Richard started in the insurance industry in 1992, he has gained extensive knowledge and experience in the field. He held executive management positions at Alexander Forbes (now Marsh) and Econorisk.

He co-founded Apio Group in 2011 as an independent retail insurance broker focused on providing risk and insurance solutions to business enterprises.

Richard has consulted on a diverse range of businesses in South Africa, including mining, energy, information technology, hospitality and manufacturing.

His client Experience includes BASF, MAN Truck & Bus, Easigas, Imperial Group, Bridgestone, Bandag, Klinger, Insimbi Industrial Holdings, Menar Group, Wesizwe Platinum, CFAO, Bollore and Vedanta Resources.

Qualifications:

Advanced Diploma in Insurance
AIISA (Associate of the Insurance Institute of South Africa)

Clients Consulted: BASF, CFAO Group, Imperial Holdings,

DEREK STRYDOM

Chief Operating Officer

Olea South Africa

DEREK STRYDOM

Derek started his insurance career in the 1990s, acting as a commercial claims specialist for Mutual and Federal Insurance Company.

After working in commercial and corporate claims for four years, he moved into an underwriting position at the company. Two years later, he was asked by the manager of the special accounts division to join a specialised team.

Alexander Forbes offered him a position as an accounts executive. For four years, Derek managed a team and a large portfolio of clients in the commercial division. He was then headhunted by Generali Insurance (locally called Standard General) to join their sales and marketing division. After one year, he was again headhunted by the Insurance Brokers Resource Centre (part of Santam Insurance Co) to run their entire Southern Cape region (based in George, South Africa).

In 2011, when the company was absorbed into Santam, Derek left and co-founded Apio Group with Richard Hood.

BUKHOSI KHUMALO

Executive Head: Business Risk Solutions

Olea South Africa

BUKHOSI KHUMALO

Started in industry - 2013

Bukhosi joined the South African insurance industry in 2013 and has gathered wide-ranging experience and skill through various client facing and leadership roles. He has worked for small, medium, and large brokers, including the Garrun Group, allowing him to learn and understand the various business models and value chain for efficient client servicing. His latest role prior to joining OLEA was as a Manager in Corporate at Marsh, where he led one of the largest risk and insurance programmes in the business.

He has client experience in several industries including tertiary institutions, manufacturing, retail, various services, construction & engineering, property, logistics, and pharmaceuticals.

Education and Professional Qualifications:

B. Com Hons. in Risk Management and Insurance (with Distinction)
AIRMSA (Associate of the Institute of Risk Management of South Africa)
FIISA (Fellow of the Insurance Institute of South Africa)

Industry Contributions:

Currently Deputy President of the Insurance Institute of Gauteng
Currently on Forum of Fellows for IISA
Currently University Visiting lecturer on Risk and Insurance
Past President of the Actuarial Science and Insurance Society

ROBERT FRANCIS

Executive Head: People Solutions

Olea South Africa

ROBERT FRANCIS

Started in insurance: 2004

Robert is an experienced insurance professional with a two-decade career specializing in personal insurance risk solutions. He held various positions at Outsurance, Nedbank, Investec, Aon, Genesis Capital, Discovery, and most recently served as a respected strategic partner to the Apio Group (now OLEA South Africa).

With his expertise in building and leading successful business development teams, including running a thriving financial planning practice, he brings invaluable insights to ensure exceptional financial solutions and risk management for our clients.

Client Experience includes: Outsurance, Nedbank, Investec, Aon, Genesis Capital, & Discovery

Higher Education and Professional Qualifications:

Leader as Coach programme - Neuroscience Leadership Institute
Insurance Leadership Development Programme - Gordon Institute of Business Science

MELANIE LE ROUX

Director: Group Communication & Marketing

Olea Group

MELANIE LE ROUX

Melanie is a seasoned financial services marketing professional and accredited digital marketer. She has many years of experience in taking brands to market and working with distribution teams in financial institutions. She has held management and director positions in various companies, including running her own marketing consultancy.

During her tenure as Head of Marketing for Afrocentric Distribution Services, she was instrumental in the repositioning of Bonitas Medical Fund in 2016. Prior to joining OLEA South Africa in 2022, she held the position of Director of Marketing and Distribution at Tax Risk Underwriting Managers in 2019 and was also the Managing Director of a niche short-term brokerage focusing on accountants and tax specialists in 2017.

Melanie’s client experience includes Momentum, Lafarge, PSG Konsult, Liberty and Bonitas Medical Aid.

Qualifications:

Digital marketing (Accredited digital marketer)
Certificate of proficiency
Scenario planning
Business writing
Branding in financial services workshop
Project management course
Creative negotiation skills

CALVIN MASUNGO

Regional Finance Manager

Olea South Africa

CALVIN MASUNGO

Calvin started his career as an auditor with RSM Chartered Accountants. He remained there for three years before working for Econorisk in 2018 as Finance Manager. He then joined OLEA Insurance Solutions Africa in 2022 as Regional Finance Manager.

Qualifications:

Bachelor in Financial Management
Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences
Postgrad Diploma in Applied Accounting Sciences

Founders of the OLEA Group

OLIVIER DUBOIS

Chairman

OLEA Insurance Solutions Africa

OLIVIER DUBOIS

Started in insurance: 1990

Overview of career: After spending his childhood in Africa, Olivier worked for the Gras Savoye Group for twenty years in France, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.

He held a number of different positions: in Abidjan, Volunteer for National Company Service (VSNE), Deputy Director and then Managing Director of Gras Savoye Côte d'Ivoire, and from Dakar, Director of African subsidiaries.

Returning to France in 2007, he took over the management of foreign subsidiaries. Joining the Group's COMEX in 2008, he accelerated Gras Savoye's international development, under the Gras Savoye international brand.

At the end of 2015, he was appointed regional CEO of the CEEMEA region (Central and Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa) within the new Willis Towers Watson group.

When Gras Savoye was sold to English broker Willis, Olivier and his partner Olivier Canuel decided to launch a new pan-African insurance broker, OLEA. Olivier has also been a French Foreign Trade Advisor since 2004.

Higher Education and Professional Qualifications:

Commerce and Finance at INSEAD

OLIVIER CANUEL

Group CEO

OLEA Insurance Solutions Africa

OLIVIER CANUEL

Started in insurance: 2009

Overview of career: Olivier began his career in the insurance industry as Managing Director for Gras Savoye in Côte d’Ivoire. He then became the CEO for Gras Savoye International responsible for the Anglophone African countries. In 2017 Olivier Canuel in partnership with Olivier Dubois founded OLEA. Prior to his insurance experience, he was a successful diplomat in Africa for the French Foreign Office, and a banker for BNP in South America.

Olivier history is filled with entrepreneurial start-ups.

Client Experience includes: Bolloré, Castel, Abidjan Refinery, Engie, Vincie, CFAO.

Higher Education and Professional Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Economy and
Development / Master’s Degree in Political Science in Paris