HDI Global has announced a new appointment for its marine practice in Melbourne.
Steven Croney will join the business as marine underwriting manager for the southern region, joining the business from
Chubb’s London office.
Croney has also worked with
Allianz marine and aviation in London and
Zurich Global Corporate and Kai Brüggemann, marine underwriting manager APAC, told
Insurance Business that the appointment shows the commitment of HDI Global to the Melbourne market.
“Melbourne is an important market for our growth strategy within Australia,” Brüggemann said.
“Industrial insurance is very much about delivering services and building up long-term relationships to brokers and client. Thus, having Steven in our team in Melbourne emphasises our commitment to the Melbourne market.
“Considering his background in the London market and his expertise especially with B2B solutions and marine liabilities, he accomplishes our team as a perfect fit.”
Brüggemann said that the marine market has an opportunity to grow throughout the region as the Australian industry could look to shift local risks back to the market.
“An opportunity is of course the repatriating of risks, which have formerly been placed in London,” Brüggemann continued.
“We - I mean the whole Australian market - have enough capacity, know how, authorities and basically all you need to place risks in Australia and manage global programs from here.”
Brüggemann
relocated to Australia in 2015 and said that it was the “huge opportunities,” that the region has that were the “main reason” for his move.
“There are huge opportunities in this region, and everybody knows that,” Brüggemann said.
“Those who respond with the demanded, service orientated products and become reliable go-to-markets, will prevail.”
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