WTW appoints Sema Gökdemir as Regional Head of Health & Benefits

WTW has announced the appointment of Sema Gökdemir as Head of Health & Benefits for the CEEMEA region, which spans Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Effective April 1, Sema Gökdemir will lead the strategic direction and portfolio of the Health & Benefits practice, which advises organisations on designing and managing employee health, insurance, and wellbeing programmes. The practice helps employers navigate rising healthcare costs, evolving workforce expectations, and enhancing employee wellbeing while balancing employee value with cost control.

Based in Istanbul, Gökdemir brings nearly three decades of experience across the insurance and employee benefits sector to the role. She has been with WTW since 2014 and steps up from Health & Benefits Leader in the Türkiye market.

On her appointment, Gökdemir said: “Organisations today are under growing pressure to balance cost, care, and employee experience in a rapidly changing environment. I see a significant opportunity to play a strategic role in shaping resilient, high-performing workforces. Together with our clients, we will continue to push boundaries, leveraging data, innovation, and deep expertise to deliver solutions that create lasting impact across their organizations.”

Gökdemir succeeds Bahrain-based Alan Westhead, who will retire at the end of May 2026 following a distinguished career and 16-year tenure at WTW. The two will work closely together over the coming period to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

“I’m proud of what WTW has built in the CEEMEA region and I am excited to further strengthen our capabilities, talent and client partnerships across the region. We have strong momentum, exceptional talent, and a clear ambition to elevate our impact to support our clients across the region,” Gökdemir concluded.