FORTY Under 40: Amit Hapani

Amit Hapani, director, India Operations, Hylant.

Hapani leads India operations at Hylant, bringing more than 13 years of invaluable experience in the insurance industry, with a specialisation in captive insurance management. His deep expertise and dedication to the field are reflected in his approach to client service and operational excellence. Hapani is particularly focused on enabling client success through meticulous analysis and the careful preparation of financial statements, ensuring that Hylant consistently delivers the highest level of service in the industry.

One standout aspect of his work is a commitment to improving efficiency and accuracy through thoughtfully crafted documents. He has a talent for developing unique, self-explanatory financial reports tailored to the specific needs of each client. This not only simplifies processes but also enhances the overall client experience. 

Throughout his career, Hapani has played pivotal roles in preparing feasibility reports and financial statements for captive insurance programmes across various industries. His analytical skills and attention to detail have consistently delivered significant value, making him a trusted partner in client success.

Prior to joining Hylant, Hapani served as deputy manager at Marsh McLennan, where he was instrumental in driving financial analysis and consulting services. He also worked as a senior specialist at Willis Towers Watson, further refining his skills and deepening his understanding of the industry’s complexities.

Hapani is a dedicated professional and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for the past 14 years. A long-standing commitment to professional development and adherence to the highest standards is testament to his pursuit of excellence in the insurance sector.

Looking back at your journey over the past year, what accomplishment are you most proud of, and how has becoming a FORTY Under 40 finalist influenced your perspective on that achievement?

One I’m most proud of is earning the trust of my colleagues and leadership – trust clearly demonstrated when Hylant empowered me to build an independent team in India. Although I’ve had the opportunity to establish teams across different organisations in the past, this milestone felt particularly meaningful. It wasn’t just an operational initiative; it was a responsibility to carry forward Hylant’s culture, values, and client-first philosophy in a new market.

Being named a FORTY Under 40 finalist gave me the chance to reflect on that achievement with a deeper sense of gratitude. It reminded me that this work is not only about scaling operations, but also about contributing to a mission that prioritises innovative, relationship-driven risk solutions. Helping shape Hylant’s presence in India – and doing so as part of a family that truly lives its values – has been both a professional milestone and a personal honour.

Effective leadership isn’t just about delivering results – it’s about empowering the team to perform at their best while upholding the standards expected at a global level.

What key challenge did you face in your work this year? How did you overcome it and what did it teach you about leadership at this stage of your career?

The key challenge this year was balancing the demands of a growing team with consistently meeting critical deadlines and high client expectations. To manage this, I stayed proactive – tracking priorities closely, anticipating risks early and maintaining continuous feedback loops with both clients and leadership.

This experience strengthened my leadership by teaching me to stay focused, confident and self-driven under pressure. It reinforced that effective leadership isn’t just about delivering results – it’s about empowering the team to perform at their best while upholding the standards expected at a global level.

In what ways have you tried to push innovation or rethink traditional approaches within your sector, and what impact has that had on your team or organisation?

Our industry is undergoing rapid transformation, especially in the captive insurance space, where technology and evolving risk landscapes are reshaping how organisations approach enterprise risk management. Recognizing this shift, I’ve focused on pushing innovation by encouraging our team continuously to expand our knowledge base, stay ahead of emerging technologies and rethink how we deliver strategic value to clients.

We’ve introduced new tools, enhanced data-driven insights and adopted more agile approaches to problem-solving – all aimed at helping clients better understand their risks and make more informed decisions.

The impact has been meaningful: our team has become more forward-thinking, more confident in leveraging technology and more aligned with the industry’s evolving expectations. For the organisation, this mindset shift has strengthened our ability to deliver proactive, strategic solutions that position us as partners in innovation rather than just service providers.

How do you see your role evolving over the next three to five years, and what initiatives are you most excited to pursue as you continue to grow professionally?

I see my role expanding into broader strategic leadership, with a focus on strengthening our global capabilities and advancing innovation. I am particularly excited to:

• Build India into a stronger strategic hub supporting analytics and new service lines;
• Drive data and technology-enabled solutions that elevate our risk-management offerings;
• Develop emerging leaders to support sustainable growth.

My goal is to help shape the organization’s long-term strategy while fostering a more innovative, globally connected team.

Many of the FORTY Under 40 winners are recognised for both business success and broader impact – how do you balance professional excellence with contributions to your community or industry landscape?

I balance professional excellence with broader impact by approaching my work with the belief that leadership extends beyond business results - it’s also about strengthening the community and contributing to the advancement of our industry.

Within the organization, I focus on building people, not just processes. I actively mentor emerging talent, create opportunities for cross-learning, and encourage a culture of continuous improvement. This not only elevates our team’s performance but also builds long-term capability beyond my immediate role.

Outside of day-to-day responsibilities, I contribute to the wider industry by staying engaged with evolving trends in risk management, captives, and technology. I share insights, participate in knowledge-building initiatives, and help clients and peers navigate the sector’s transformation with clarity and confidence.

For me, the balance comes from alignment: when you’re committed to excellence at work and equally committed to lifting others – whether colleagues, clients, or the broader community – impact grows naturally, and success becomes shared.

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