Simon was born and grew up in Zimbabwe.
He studied mechanical engineering and worked for a couple of years in an engineering environment before going into reinsurance with Munich Re in 1984 in Harare. He started as an engineering underwriter but progressed to become the regional manager in 1990.
In 1995 he moved to Minet Insurance brokers in Harare to start a reinsurance division which he did quite successfully.
With Aon opening in South Africa in 1997, Simon was requested to join the new Aon Re South Africa team in 1999. Staring with a core team of 54 people, he was instrumental in growing the business both in SA and rest of Africa.
In 2014 Simon was appointed Managing Director of Aon Re Africa and CEO in 2014 when Aon Re bought Benfield Greig globally.
Simon has overseen the growth of the business from the smallest broker in 2001 to the leader toady. The company now employs 70 colleagues and does business across the Africa continent.
Simon has been President of the Insurance Institute of Harare, President Insurance Institute of Zimbabwe and President of the Insurance Institute of South Africa in 2006.
He has served on the Executive committee of the African Insurance Organization (AIO) for 6 years.
Simon is on the Executive Board of Aon Benfield EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and serves on a number of company boards.
He is considered an expert in reinsurance and well respected in the African continent.
From 1 October 2017, Simon took over as Executive Chairman of Aon Benfield.