Sandra Lee steers BMS Asia in M&A growth

She builds the firm's broking capabilities whilst tackling climate risks, digital adoption, and underinsurance in Asia.

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Sandra Lee, Asia CEO at London-based insurer BMS Group Ltd., thinks there is nothing wrong with women leaders asking for help.

“Effective communication is crucial not just in sharing successes and challenges, but also in being transparent about when you need help,” she told Insurance Asia.

Lee, appointed chief executive officer in January 2021, has been building the company’s insurance-broking capabilities for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the region. Before this, she spent almost nine years as head of transaction liability insurance at Aon Plc.

“Asking for support is not a sign of weakness; it’s a strength that demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to growth,” she said in an interview.

Only a third of senior management roles in mid-market firms in the Asia-Pacific region are held by women, 1.1 percentage point lower than the global average, according to Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2025 report.

Lee, who has been in the insurance business for more than two decades, said building trust and credibility, especially during periods of economic instability, is a challenge for leaders regardless of gender.