Leire Jimenez Ayesa

CEO, Asia-Pacific Mapfre Group

Leire is a both a leader in international business development and a hands on manager responsible for bringing great teams together. She is a lifelong employee of Mapfre and credits her parents for instilling in her a craving for taking on challenges, enjoying the dynamics of business and to always keep learning and working hard.

She currently leads the Asia-Pacific region for the Mapfre Group of companies from India to Australia with over 1,000 employees and a growing presence across the region. She regularly speaks at industry conferences with a strong focus on technology, online sales and innovation within insurance. She has a passion for mentoring young talent and specially helping others pursue international careers.

In her first posting in the UK she handled business development and the commercial expansion of Mapfre Assistance in the UK to become the leaders in their fields, overseeing the establishment of a joint venture and providing strategic guidance for other international acquisitions.

Soon after she received the Future Leaders Award she was tasked with invigorating the company’s Asian presence and she became the Managing Director for Road China (Mapfre’s main business in China) taking on the handling of the most dynamic and expanding market in the region and consolidating the company’s position as a leading foreign player in the country.

She has also used her time in China to help set up charity groups within the company and raise funds for education and children welfare programs in China.