Jasleen Kohli wins Asia insurance Woman Leader of the Year again

Jasleen Kohli, managing director and chief executive of Go Digit General Insurance, was named Woman Leader of the Year at the 30th Asia Insurance Industry Awards, held in Singapore and announced on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The awards are organised by the trade publication Asia Insurance Review. It is the second year in a row that Kohli has won the title, after her win in 2025, the company said.

Kohli's path stands out because she rose inside the company she now leads. She joined Digit as a founding member and, according to the company, was its first employee. Before becoming chief executive, she was its chief distribution officer, in charge of all its sales and distribution channels.

Before Digit, she spent more than 15 years with Allianz in India, according to the company, giving her over 18 years in the insurance industry at the time of her appointment. Reports at the time said she was 42 when she became chief executive, which made her one of the youngest heads of an insurance company in the country.

An award from a regional trade body does not measure a company's results, and readers should treat it as recognition by peers in the industry rather than as a verdict on performance. What it does show is visibility: a woman from an Indian insurer has now been chosen over finalists from large regional groups two years running. In a past interview, Kohli spoke of nurturing the people around her, learning from them and helping them grow.

For women building careers in financial services, her record shows one route to the top: through sales and distribution, the part of the business that brings in customers, rather than only through finance or actuarial work.

Peepals timeline: Kohli joined Digit at its founding as a founding member and, by the company's account, its first employee. She rose to chief distribution officer, overseeing all sales channels. On 19 April 2022 the company announced her appointment as MD and CEO, effective 20 April 2022, succeeding Vijay Kumar. In 2025 she won the AIIA Woman Leader of the Year title for the first time, and on 5 November 2026 she won it again at the 30th edition of the awards in Singapore.

Short-term: The award adds to Digit Insurance's profile among regional insurers and brokers, and to Kohli's standing in industry forums.

Long-term: Repeated recognition of women leaders in Asian insurance can help widen the pool of women considered for top jobs in a field where few have held them.

Who is affected: Women working in insurance and financial services, Digit Insurance's employees and partners, and companies looking at how they develop leaders from within.

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