Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has introduced four new executive and professional lines and announced two key appointments.

The new policies are directors’ & officers’ liability insurance for executives, professional indemnity insurance for financial planners, liability insurance for asset managers and civil liability cover for professionals.

Head of Executive and Professional Lines Australasia Cameron McLisky says BHSI is building new products “backed by the security of our financial strength and long-term commitment to the Australian marketplace”.

BHSI moved into Australia early last year, led by Chris Colahan, the former Asia head of British insurer RSA.

The group has also announced the appointment of Sami Jaghbir as Senior Underwriting Manager, Executive and Professional Lines in Brisbane, and Richard Johnson to the same role in Melbourne.

Mr Jaghbir joins BHSI after five years at Vero, where he was underwriting manager for NSW and the ACT. He has also worked for Marsh, Promina, Citibank and Pfizer.

Mr Johnson joins from Catlin, where he was financial lines manager for Melbourne. He has also worked at AIG in London and Australia. 

Professional Indemnity Manager Matthew Clarke says the new lines are an “important milestone in establishing ourselves as a primary player in the Australian market”.

“The response to BHSI joining the Australian market has been very positive,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We have had great support from our broker partners and customers and have been able to forge numerous relationships that we will look to strengthen over the coming years.”

Mr Clarke says BHSI is always looking to evolve its products in response to the market.

“The benefit of the flat structure within which we operate is that we can move quickly where we identify a new opportunity.”

BHSI’s executive and professional lines team is now nine strong across its Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne offices.