Pete Diskin, the chief client officer (CCO) of Gallagher Bassett (GB) in the UK since 2018, is moving to Australia to take on the same role for the global claims services provider’s Australian business.
Before being the CCO in the UK, Diskin (pictured) spent 17 years with GB in Australia in operational, sales, and leadership roles.
Upon moving back to Australia as a CCO, Diskin will lead growth and retention strategies for GB Australia's product lines and markets by translating the skills and knowledge from the UK and international markets back into the Australian market and drawing on his long-term experience in both regions.
Despite relocating to Australia, he will remain the GB executive lead for the Lloyd's of London market and will still regularly visit the UK.
“I look forward to re-joining the high-performing Australian team as we expand our footprint and product offerings in new and existing markets,” said Diskin. “It is critical we continue to deliver and develop products that our clients see as valuable and outcome-focused.”
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Diskin noted several similarities between the UK and Australian markets, with both being inter-connected with significant lines of coverage for the Australian market, either primary insured, co-insured, or reinsured out of the London market via carrying distribution channels.
“There is a natural cross over, and both markets trade under similar governance and regulatory frameworks, and delivering outcomes for [the] government, local Australian carriers, and offshore markets is a key focus for GB,” he said.
On the differences, Diskin noted the absence of workers' compensation in the UK, as well as the geographical risk profiles around climate, land size, populations, insurance product penetration, and general risk exposures impacting clients' risk profiles.
“Reaching my 23rd year combined in both markets, we have seen the cycles and outcomes for our clients both in soft and hardening environments, along with the regulatory reform in personal injury and P&C lines,” he said.
