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OUTsurance

OUTsurance is a South African direct insurer launched in February 1998 by Willem Roos, Howard Aron and René Otto.

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OUTsurance is a South African direct insurer launched in February 1998 by Willem Roos, Howard Aron and René Otto. The company began by selling car and household insurance directly to customers. [1]

History

OUTsurance’s official history identifies Roos, Aron and Otto as the people who brought the insurer to life in early February 1998. A 2013 annual report adds that Roos joined an RMB Holdings-funded project team in March 1997 before the launch. [1][2]

Roos later served as joint managing director and then led the business for roughly two decades. OUTsurance Group continues to identify him as one of the founders. [3][2]

Key milestones

  1. Willem Roos joined the RMB Holdings-funded project team developing a direct short-term insurer. [2]

  2. OUTsurance launched, founded by Willem Roos, Howard Aron and René Otto. [1]

  3. Roos and Howard Aron were appointed joint managing directors. [2]

Founded / co-founded by

Related articles

Sources

  1. OUTsurance, History and culture at OUTsurance. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  2. OUTsurance, Annual Report 2013, 2013-06-30. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩
  3. OUTsurance Group, Our board. Original source. Accessed 2026-09-25. ↩