Arch Insurance has declined to comment following the abrupt replacement of its Sydney-based regional director Robin Barham.

Arch’s acquisition of Melbourne-based managing general agent Resource Underwriting Pacific last month has taken an unexpected turn with the removal of Mr Barham.

His replacement is Resource Underwriting MD Paul Muller. When the acquisition was originally announced on November 10 Mr Muller was named as Senior VP of Arch Underwriting Australia, based in Melbourne.

Arch in London has not responded to enquiries from insuranceNEWS.com.au. Nor has Mr Muller returned calls. A company receptionist told an insuranceNEWS.com.au reporter today that “we’re not speaking to journalists”.

Before joining Arch in September last year Mr Barham managed the high-profile Catlin Seaview Survey. He came to Australia in 2006 as aviation underwriting manager for Catlin.

The parent, Arch Capital Group, is a Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance company with a focus on specialty lines.