Zurich has announced a string of seven promotions and appointments to its business in a number of local and global teams.
The changes are focused on the commercial and global corporate space, and are headlined by three changes in broker-facing positions.
Two major promotions see Paul Skene appointed commercial state manager for Victoria and Tasmania, while Lori Messori will take on the new role of head of broker management.
Jonathon Moss has also joined the commercial distribution team as national partnership manager and will be based in the Sydney office.
Commenting on these changes, Adrian Rimminton, Zurich’s executive general manager in Australia for commercial, believes they show the investment the company has made in the commercial side of the business.
“These appointments highlight the investment we are making in distribution and further strengthening our market-facing capability.”
On the global corporate side of the business, David Chester will move into the role of broker relationship leader at the Melbourne office and Lindsay Urquhart has been appointed as an additional broker relationship leader.
Christian Falkingham and Kurt Urquhart have been appointed as global relationship managers.
Giles Crowley, Zurich Australia’s executive general manager of global corporate, stressed that the moves represent a global view for the local business.
“These appointments reinforce the emphasis and value we place on strong broker and customer relationships.
“With a global risk landscape evolving at such a rapid pace, close working relationships in each state and territory remain just as critical as the innovative tools and risk engineering resources we bring to understanding a corporation’s risk exposure in whichever jurisdiction they operate.”
Skene’s predecessor, Chris O’Connor, is working on “a transitioning of responsibilities,” with his successor and “continues to work with the business assisting the implementation of Zurich’s key national strategies,” according to a company statement.
Having joined Zurich earlier last year as a senior marine underwriter, Skene has also had stints with Lumley and
Chubb and brings “extensive experience and market knowledge,” to his latest role.
Messori has been a national broker manager since joining Zurich in 2013 with over 30 years industry experience.
Moss joins the insurer from
Finn Foster Insurance Brokers following a stint with Chubb. Before his career in insurance, Moss was a professional cricket player for the Victorian Bushrangers and Derbyshire County Cricket Club in the United Kingdom.
Chester has worked for Zurich since 1997 in customer risk manager and global relationship leader roles, whilst both Urquhart’s and Falkingham have experience working in the United States market with
Marsh,
Allianz and AECOM, amongst others.
