Professional Experience
Andy Clachers is an experienced Chief Operating Officer within the insurance industry. His most recent role was COO of AXA Hong Kong and Macau. A results orientated senior operations executive, Andy has more than 17 years experience working at executive level within Financial Services in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Mainland China. Known for a positive ‘can do’ attitude, he has a strong track record of building businesses through a clear understanding of customer needs.
Among Andy’s achievements are the successful development and implementation of operational strategies, including the strategic selection and implementation of IT systems. He’s a strong communicator with an ability to develop people and teams to realise corporate objectives, and execute company strategy.
Working Experience
At AXA Hong Kong Andy was responsible for leading the operations across three business units, operational excellence, programme management, procurement and corporate real estate.
Previously he served as Chief Operating Officer for AXA Indonesia where he had responsibility for leading operations across AXA’s four business entities, as well as IT, Project Management Office, Operations Improvement and Health Claims functions within the shared service centre.
Prior to this he served as the COO at Standard Life Asia in Hong Kong and Operations Director at Heng An Standard Life in Tianjin, China. In Tianjin, Andy was a member of the original team formed to establish Standard Life’s joint venture. Filling several different roles, he was responsible for implementing the operational strategy that supported the successful establishment of operations across 25 cities in China.
On Living in Jakarta
Andy thoroughly enjoyed his four years in Jakarta. This was thanks to the people, the food and the feeling of vibrancy from a city that’s going places! One of the best parts is that Jakarta is a fantastic base to explore the beauty, the history and the culture of a nation of 250 million spread across 17,000 Islands!
While living there, he had the chance to experience the world class diving around Komodo Island; the magnificent history of Borobudur and the chilled out beauty of Bali. On such trips, he often feels as though he’s living in an episode of the National Geographic channel.
Indonesia was a great place for Andy to enjoy his photography, http://www.andyclachers-photos.com
Fisherman in Jimbaran, Bali
However, the people are even more special; they are warm, friendly and always smiling. He feels that he has been taught to smile more and admires the openness of his Indonesian friends to other cultures. He’s been taught that smiling is contagious and that we should all do it more.
And of course the people love to eat. So much street food and so many restaurants. The variety reflects the diversity of the country and its population. Overall, it’s tremendously exciting to live in a place that is being transformed. Jakarta is already the Twitter capital of the world. Yes, Andy and his fellow Jakarta citizens collectively tweet more than any other city. In fact they embrace all forms of social media with a thirst for ideas that will transform the country in the next 15 years. It has one of the youngest populations in the world who are now approaching a ‘sweet spot’ in terms of the large proportion of the country who will be of working age. They are all contributing to the growth and transformation of the country. Jakarta is buzzing and you can feel the energy! To life in Jakarta is to feel alive in Jakarta! For that, Andy feels very fortunate.
On Living in Hong Kong
It’s not for nothing that Hong Kong is described as ‘Asia’s World City’! A truly cosmopolitan city, dynamic and diverse, Andy was delighted with the opportunity the return to Hong Kong.
From skyscrapers to fishing villages, and selection of every type of food possible, there is never a dull moment in Hong Kong. Amongst Andy’s favourites are Cha Siu Bao and Egg Tarts! Hong Kong is also one of the best places in the world to enjoy photography!
http://www.andyclachers-photos.com/Galleries/Hong-Kong/
and http://www.andyclachers-photos.com/Galleries/Hong-KongBlackandWhite/
Education
Open University, 2001
