Sedgwick, a leading partner in risk and claims management, announced personnel changes in its South African structure on Friday. Ken McLain is stepping down as CEO to take on the role of Senior Executive Specialist for Large and Complex Claims.
Sedgwick, a leading partner in risk and claims management, announced personnel changes in its South African structure on Friday. Ken McLain is stepping down as CEO to take on the role of Senior Executive Specialist for Large and Complex Claims.
Sedgwick stated that McLain will focus on delivering valuable results for clients. During his 11 years as CEO in South Africa, he helped build the operational foundation for the company's next phase of growth and paved the way for this leadership change. He will continue to collaborate with the team he built, supporting the business's success.
Gibson noted that McLain's 40 years of industry experience and his impressive ability to manage claims will contribute to the company's long-term success. McLain himself expressed pride in his achievements in the business and the strong relationships built with clients, while also expressing readiness to move to a new career stage and support Wayne.
Concurrently, Sedgwick has appointed Wayne Klingler as the new CEO in South Africa. His responsibilities will include leading the company's strategic growth, strengthening client relationships, and advancing operational excellence. Gibson emphasized that Klingler's appointment reflects his extensive industry experience and his ability to lead in times of growth and change.
Klingler possesses over 30 years of leadership experience in insurance claims, specializing in investigating and managing large, complex claims. He most recently served as a Claims Executive Specialist and Operations Leader at Sedgwick South Africa, overseeing complex claims and loss assessment operations. Klingler stated his readiness to take on the CEO role and lead the business into a new chapter, expressing a desire to work with talented colleagues to deepen client relationships and achieve outstanding results.
While Quagg Smith watched from the sidelines, 23-year-old Paul de Villiers seized the opportunity with the national team in green and gold. Last weekend, injured Quagg Smith proudly watched the young players of the Springboks squad take to the field, including the unstoppable Paul de Villiers.
De Villiers wore number 6, fulfilling, to some extent, a role that Smith might have played over the last two weeks. De Villiers was called up to the Bok squad at the last minute during the game against England at Ellis Park stadium earlier this month following the injury of captain Siya Kolisi, and he showed confident play. In the following week, against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, his performance was perhaps even better.
Overall, in more than 120 minutes of playing time, De Villiers made one tackle, executed 13 drives, completed 23 tackles, gained 82 meters, made five passes, and beat four defenders. He will start the match against Wales on Saturday at Kings Park stadium (kick-off at 17:40) as part of his third test match.
Smith, recovering from a serious knee injury, believes that the rise of De Villiers and several young players in the Boks squad is an exclusively positive factor for the team. Furthermore, he thinks that the upcoming 'Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry' series against New Zealand, starting in August, will be a decisive test.
On Tuesday at the start of the tour in Johannesburg, Smith stated: 'The young guys are breaking through.' He added that he put himself in the shoes of young players when he was young, and if such an opportunity arises, one must give it their all. He noted that the four test matches against the All Blacks will be a real test, and there will likely be an experienced All Black defensive line, including Wallace Sititi, Luke Jakobsen, Ardie Savea, Anton Segner, and Peter Laka.
Smith also emphasized that the competition within the team is good. He said that healthy competition forces a player to maintain peak form upon return, which is beneficial for the game.
The 33-year-old player also shared that he was very impressed by De Villiers' attitude. Smith recounted: 'I saw him when we were in the training camp, when I went into the hotel, and he was one of the first to approach me and ask for advice. That is a special moment because it shows that he is a person willing to learn, and that is very important. For Rassie, this applies to players who accept principles, are ready to learn, and absorb how he wants them to play.' He concluded that De Villiers plays very well and has a bright future ahead of him.
Smith walked around the FNB stadium, still wearing a knee brace, although the joint appeared fully straightened. He admitted some disappointment but also gained new insights into the Boks from the sidelines while recovering. He noted: 'Everything is new to me. I have never had such a big injury in my career. I am moving step by step, following the medical staff and their instructions. We are being cautious and not rushing. We want to ensure that when I return, I return at the final stage of my career.' He continued: 'Psychologically it is hard. You also see the entire Springboks squad from a different perspective. Since I participated since 2018, I played in most test matches. Now, having the opportunity to see it from another perspective, you feel great respect for it and great respect for the fans, because you see how much it means to them. It is good for me to experience that.'
