Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has received its licence to operate in New Zealand.

It is just the sixth country licence for BHSI globally.

“We’re delighted to have our licence in New Zealand,” Australasia President Chris Colahan told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“We think it’s a market that over the long term promises strong returns.”

BHSI will underwrite property and casualty insurance through its new Auckland office, which begins with eight employees and four product lines.

Mr Colahan says investment in the New Zealand start-up reflects BHSI’s confidence in the market.

He says BHSI is particularly pleased to have secured Cameron McLisky as New Zealand Country Manager.

“He’s going to be a fantastic country leader. He’s a very experienced insurance executive and we’re very pleased to have him on board to manage the company in New Zealand,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Mr McLisky says BHSI has assembled a team of senior insurance executives to provide “stable, flexible solutions, along with the quality service that is a hallmark of BHSI operations everywhere”.

He was appointed in October last year after 15 years with AIG, where he held several senior roles. He was most recently Singapore-based regional financial lines manager for AIG Asia-Pacific.

Mr McLisky was also regional offices manager for AIG UK in London and Australian financial lines manager based in Sydney.

BHSI appointments in New Zealand include: former head of Vero Special Risks Doug Thomson as Property and Energy Manager; former Lumley Insurance corporate trading team manager Anthony Posa as Casualty Manager; and Megan Howe, a former insurance law partner with London firm Robin Simon LLP, as Claims Manager.