Canopius has made key appointments to its office in Sydney, which opened recently to support the global specialty insurer’s growth plans for Australia and New Zealand.

The business has also received binding authority approval from Lloyd’s.

Head of Australia and Pacific Claudio Saita says more appointments will follow as the business “continues to develop our proposition as a committed, technology-enabled and locally empowered carrier”.

Suzanne White started work last month as Accident and Health Underwriter, joining from Brisbane-based Woodina Underwriting Agency, where she had a similar role.

She has almost two decades of experience, having previously worked for Aon Risk Solutions and Ace.

Jeanene Hill will start next month as Head of Coverholders and Binding Authority Asia-Pacific. She was previously delegated authorities manager and class underwriter for property at Talbot Underwriting, which closed its Australian operations recently.

Former Talbot assistant delegated authorities manager Ann Gi Ho will join as Portfolio Manager, Coverholders and Delegated Authority. Before Talbot, she worked for QBE Syndicate in Singapore.

Subhadra Vasilevski, formerly a senior operations analyst with XL Catlin, has been recruited as Finance, Compliance and Operations Manager.

The Sydney office operates as a local underwriting hub, and targets SMEs through coverholders, wholesale direct and facultative, and reinsurance treaty business.

Canopius has separately announced Jamie Jeffers will join its Singapore office in September as Underwriter Credit and Political Risk. He was most recently Willis Towers Watson executive director financial solutions credit and political risk, based in Sydney.

His appointment signals the insurer’s goal to grow in the region, particularly in the banking and corporate sector.