Coface appoints Darren Chan as Country Manager for Malaysia and Head of the Philippines

Coface has appointed Darren Chan as Country Manager for Malaysia and Head of the Philippines, effective 1 April 2026, the company announced in a media release on Thursday. The appointment underscores Coface’s continued focus on strengthening its leadership and expanding its footprint across key Southeast Asian markets.

In his new role, Chan will oversee the overall business operations and strategic direction of Coface in both Malaysia and the Philippines. He will report to Hugh Burke, Chief Executive Officer of Coface Asia-Pacific.

“With a proven talent for connecting market needs to regional and group strategies, and a solid commitment to client excellence, Darren is well equipped to guide our Malaysia and Philippines operations through their next phase of development,” Burke commented on the appointment. “His deep familiarity with the Malaysian market, built through previous leadership roles in the country, will be a significant asset in driving impactful and sustainable growth.”

Chan joined Coface in 2016 and has built a strong track record across the region. Prior to his latest appointment, he served as Head of Commercial at Coface Japan. Over the years, he has held several leadership roles within the organisation, including Head of Commercial in Hong Kong, Head of Sales for Coface China in Shanghai, and Head of Commercial in Malaysia.

With more than 20 years of experience, Chan brings deep expertise spanning trade credit insurance, property and casualty insurance, and banking. Before joining Coface, he held senior positions at Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad, Hong Leong Bank Berhad, and Maybank Berhad, where he led initiatives across corporate business development, customer experience, bancassurance, and transformation projects.

Chan’s appointment follows a series of regional leadership changes at Coface, including the promotion of Carmen Chow to Head of Commercial for Hong Kong and the appointment of Priscilla Ng as Commercial Director for Singapore earlier this year.

Academically, Chan holds a Bachelor of Accountancy in Accounting and Finance from Universiti Putra Malaysia. He also completed his STPM in Business and Economics at SMK Taman Tasik, Ampang.

The leadership move reflects Coface’s broader strategy to reinforce its market presence in Asia-Pacific by leveraging experienced regional leaders to drive sustainable growth and deliver client-focused solutions.