Thomas Russell has been appointed director, head of Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) wholesale at Price Forbes Asia, a newly created role designed to bolster the firm’s presence in those markets.
He will be based in Singapore and report directly to Phil Johnson, CEO of Price Forbes Asia Pacific (APAC).
Russell (pictured) – who joins from Honan Insurance Group where he led its wholesale and reinsurance division, Green Bird Reinsurance – brings over 12 years of experience in managing complex risks in Australia and New Zealand.
He has also worked for Marsh and Honan in Sydney, where he focused on property, casualty, and financial lines.
Commenting on his new leadership role, Russell highlighted Price Forbes’ strong market presence, making it well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities in the APAC region.
“I’m eager to lead and grow the new ANZ wholesale team as we embark on this exciting journey together,” he said.
Commenting on the latest appointment, Johnson highlighted that Australia and New Zealand are key markets for the company.
He noted that establishing a team to handle ANZ placements within the region’s time zone is critical to improving client service and offering access to the Singapore market.
“Adding strong ANZ placement capabilities to service clients ‘in time zone’ and provide access to the Singaporean market for those clients was an obvious priority for us,” he said, adding that Russell’s role will be central to this strategy.
“We look forward to building out the team to make the most of the fantastic opportunities in the region,” Johnson said.
Price Forbes, a global specialty insurance broker with more than a century of experience, operates in various sectors including energy, property, and financial lines. It is part of Ardonagh Specialty, the largest independent specialty broker in the London market, which manages over $7 billion in gross written premiums globally.
Early this year, Ardonagh Specialty consolidated its reinsurance operations under the Price Forbes brand, renaming its reinsurance business to Price Forbes Re. This rebranding includes the integration of Inver Re, which operates in London and Bermuda, and Equinox Re in the US.
Chris Bonard has been appointed president of Price Forbes Re and reports to Andrew Wallin, CEO of Ardonagh Specialty.
Wallin said the rebranding aligns with Price Forbes’ long-standing history and commitment to innovation in global insurance markets.
Bonard added that Price Forbes Re will focus on bringing flexibility and new approaches to reinsurance, a market often bound by traditional structures.
The rebranding marks a strategic effort by Ardonagh Specialty to streamline its operations and build a unified brand identity.
