Anuja Shah

Head of Strategy at Zurich International Life Middle East

Speaker

Anuja Shah is the Head of Strategy at Zurich International Life Middle East (Zurich), part of Zurich Insurance Group. Joining Zurich in 2020, Anuja holds the responsibility for shaping Zurich's strategy in the Middle East region and leading pivotal initiatives that drive sustainable value for both customers and the business.

Prior to her recent promotion to Head of Strategy, Anuja led the Business Transformation team that is dedicated to delivering initiatives that span the insurance value chain in the retail and corporate sectors. Her focus lies in leveraging digitalization, streamlining processes, and harnessing automation to maximize operational efficiency.

With a remarkable career spanning over 14 years in the BFSI spectrum, encompassing commercial and retail banking, financial services, and insurance, Anuja possesses an in-depth understanding of customer and partner needs. Her ability to identify opportunities through extensive research and translate them into innovative business models sets her apart. Anuja began her journey with ICICI Bank and has since gained valuable expertise in trade finance, payments, platforms, and partnerships, as well as restructuring and evaluation of prospects for mergers and acquisitions.

Anuja's professional achievements include being a Gold Medalist in Trade Finance from the ICICI Manipal Academy, India, where she obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in Banking. Additionally, she holds an MBA in Finance from Gujarat University, India.

Driven by her passion for innovation and talent development, Anuja has also served as a mentor to various start-ups in the UAE. This aligns perfectly with Zurich's customer-centric, innovation-driven, and simplification-focused strategy.

Anuja's experience, strategic vision, and commitment to driving transformation make her an invaluable asset to Zurich in the Middle East. Her leadership ensures the continuous advancement of the organization, as well as the provision of exceptional value and service to its customers and partners.