Former Gallagher head of corporate Katherine Simmonds has joined Fusion as Managing Partner, a newly created role with global responsibilities at the SME-focused specialist underwriting agency.

Ms Simmonds, who is based in Sydney, will oversee the business in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) insurance space across Australia, Asia Pacific, the US and Europe.

Fusion co-founder and Executive Partner Killian McDermott says her extensive M&A background and experience growing underwriting and broking businesses will be a boost to the agency.

“She brings highly valued expertise to the company as we prepare to launch new insurtech products and services internationally,” Mr McDermott said.

Before joining Gallagher last year, Ms Simmonds was GM head of corporate, risk & broking at Willis Towers Watson and had previously led Ironshore Australia.

Fusion is a part of Sydney-based Pop Insurance Holdings. The agency launched its M&A business, in partnership with Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty a few years ago, for warranty & indemnity, tax and contingent across the Asia Pacific region.

Mr McDermott says the business is now “very well established” in the regional M&A space, having underwritten about 210 policies in less than three years.

“We believe our success is largely due to the fact we are very focused on highly responsive service levels to meet the demands of M&A transactions,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

For next year, he says the business is looking at a number of SME-related launches including an M&A online marketplace and products.

The business will also press on with expanding its presence in the US, UK and Europe, he said.