Shaping the future of Employee Benefits across MEA and India

Leigh Dauncey appointed as Regional Employee Benefits Director for Middle East, Africa and India (IMEA)

London, 12 January 2026 | Howden has announced a further step in shaping the future of its Employee Benefits (EB) business across the Middle East, Africa and India, with Leigh Dauncey taking on the role of Regional Employee Benefits Director for IMEA, at Executive Director level, effective January 2026.

The appointment supports Howden’s strategy to move to a more formal matrix structure, embedding deeper Employee Benefits expertise within regions as the business continues to scale globally. With strong foundations now in place, the focus is on accelerating growth, strengthening regional capability and delivering increasingly tailored EB solutions to clients.

Leigh has played a central role in developing the Employee Benefits proposition across the Middle East and Africa and in building the EB team in India. In his new role, he will work closely with country leaders and EB teams to develop and execute growth and retention strategies, enhance cross-border collaboration, and embed technology and analytics to support smarter, data-driven decision-making.

Leigh will be embedded within the regional leadership structure, with a primary reporting line into MEA, a dedicated focus on India, and representation at Global Employee Benefits leadership level, ensuring strong alignment between local delivery and global strategy.

The appointment follows the recent formalisation of regional Employee Benefits leadership in Asia, with Philip Samsons appointed as Regional EB Leader. With UK & Ireland already established, Howden now has dedicated regional EB leadership across three regions, reinforcing its matrix management structure and supporting long-term, sustainable growth.

Leigh Dauncey said:

“This is an exciting time for Employee Benefits across MEA and India. Client needs are evolving quickly, and we have a real opportunity to build strong, locally-relevant EB propositions — supported by AI, our new global technology platform, and coordinated delivery for our multinational clients. I’m looking forward to working even more closely with our country teams to drive the next phase of growth.”

Richard Mockett, Regional CEO – Middle East and Africa, said:

“Leigh has been instrumental in building our Employee Benefits capability across MEA and India. Embedding his expertise more deeply across the region strengthens our leadership model and positions us well for the opportunities ahead.”

Glenn Thomas, CEO and Global Practice Leader – Employee Benefits, said:

“As our Employee Benefits business continues to scale, strong collaboration between local, regional and global teams is critical. Leigh’s leadership and regional expertise will help ensure we deliver consistent, high-quality solutions while staying closely aligned to local market needs.”