Paul Tsala passes away

Paul Timothée Tsala, former CEO of Société Camerounaise d’Assurances (SOCAR) and later Deputy General Manager of Chanas Assurances, passed away on Friday, 27 February at 5:00 p.m.

A pioneer of Cameroonian insurance and one of the sector’s earliest senior executives, P.T. Tsala began his career in the early 1970s in the insurance department of the Ministry of Finance, where he contributed to establishing the regulatory framework for insurance in Cameroon.

He then joined SOCAR, a joint venture between the Cameroonian Government and French insurers. From its founding in 1973 until 1980, he served as Deputy CEO before being appointed CEO in 1980. He led SOCAR through a key period of growth until he stepped down in 1992. Under his leadership, SOCAR became a cornerstone of the Cameroonian insurance market and a leading insurer in West and Central Africa.

Tsala was also the founder and first President of the Association of Insurance Companies of Cameroon (ASAC) when it was established in 1973. He was also President of the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF) from 1984 to 1990.

After SOCAR ceased operations, he joined Chanas Assurances at the request of its founder, Jacqueline Casalegno, where he served as Deputy General Manager, assisting in senior leadership roles within the organization.

After some 50 years in the sector, he retired from all professional activities at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He leaves behind a lasting legacy as a key architect and active contributor to the development and integration of insurance in Africa.