Insurance industry lobby group the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. (CLHIA) has appointed Alka Gautam, president and CEO of RGA Life Reinsurance Co. of Canada, to serve as its next chair.

Gautam succeeds Mark Sylvia, president and CEO of the Empire Life Insurance Co, who served as the association’s chair over the past year.

Gautam was named president and CEO of RGA Canada in January 2015. She joined the company in 2000, and served as chief financial officer, chief risk officer and chief operating officer before taking the top job.