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George Qiang Tan, WG’99
Group CEO, Ex-Global SVP/Asia Executive Board Member/China CEO
Hywin Financial Holding Group Co., Ltd., MetLife Inc.
Mr. George Tan, WG’99, is currently group CEO of Hywin Financial Holding Group Co., Ltd., responsible for leadership, strategy, execution, and general management of the entire group and all businesses. A well-known business leader in the market, he has more than 28 years of experience in financial services, insurance, and the health-care industry and extensive exposure in Greater China, Asia, and the U.S. as well as in Europe through key roles in change management, full P&L, M&A, IPOs, sales and marketing, strategy, fintech, asset/liability management, health care, and operational and general management.
During his tenure at MetLife from 2013 to 2017, George was a core member of global and regional executive committees on top of his leadership position in MetLife China. He successfully led the company to an unprecedented 2014 break-even under U.S. GAAP and achieved remarkable after-tax earnings in 2015. Under his leadership, MetLife China was also relieved from a risky solvency status to a prominent capital position. From 2013 to 2016, the company was continuously ranked in one of the top positions in the foreign/JV sector in terms of gross written premiums and profits. In September of 2016, George led the company—the first foreign/JV insurer—to contribute its first dividend of US$150mn to shareholders. MetLife China was the first foreign/JV insurance company to expand its footprint in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone and a remarkable digital/fintech/e-commerce/health-care pioneer in the market.
George’s achievements have been well recognized in the industry and by the public. He was named one of the “100 Most Influential People to China Insurance in 2016” by China FinInfo Center; a “Top 10 Foreign/JV Insurance Leader in 15 Years” by Insurance Force in 2016; “Top Leader of the Year 2015—China Insurance Industry” by China Insurance News/Net; “Top Talent of the Year 2015—Shanghai Financial Industry” by the Shanghai Finance Committee; and “Shanghai Financer of the Year 2014” by Xinhua News Agency.
In 2016, George was a senior visiting scholar and distinguished speaker at Columbia University in New York. In the 2015 Asia Insurance Competitiveness Ranking Report, published by 21st Century Herald and California State University, MetLife China was ranked one of the top 10 Chinese life insurers and claimed the number one position in the foreign/JV life insurance sector. George was a keynote speaker at the 2015 U.S.-China CEO Roundtable held by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the China State Council. He has served as an active member of American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and as one of the keynote speakers and opinion leaders at Global/Asia Pacific/Greater China financial services/insurance industry forums and in media channels.
Before joining MetLife, George served as regional director, Asia, and CEO/board director, China, at Prudential plc. Prior to Prudential, he worked with Allianz SE, Aetna, Inc., and Ping An Group in various senior leadership positions.
George received his MBA from Wharton and holds a certificate from the Harvard Executive Program. He has been an active member of the Wharton, Penn, and Harvard communities and is the cofounder and elected honorary chairman of the Penn chamber at the SORSA.