Chubb has appointed former Calibre CEO Mike Hooton to lead its new small commercial and mid-market division.

As reported in an insuranceNEWS.com.au Breaking News bulletin last week, the division has been set up in response to a rapid growth in Chubb’s SME business.

Mr Hooton, who has 30 years’ industry experience, left Calibre last year after it was folded into the new commercial division at Hollard, which had bought Calibre from Munich Holdings Australasia in August 2017.

He has been consulting for Chubb for the past 10 months.

SME Manager Matt Head will continue in his role, reporting to Mr Hooton, while recruitment is underway for a leader for Chubb’s middle market business and another for MGAs, schemes and facilities.

The new division is part of the insurer’s ongoing client-focused restructure, and follows the establishment of its major account division, announced last October.

Chubb says its SME business has been growing fast with annual revenue up to $10 million.

“The logical next phase of this development is for mid-market businesses,” Country President Australia & New Zealand Jarrod Hill said.

The insurer also announced Jason Hawksworth’s promotion to Head of Distribution Australia & New Zealand.

Mr Hawksworth will take responsibility for broker intermediated business serving small commercial, mid-market and major account clients.

He has two decades of insurance industry experience and has worked at Chubb for four years, most recently as head of Chubb’s Independent Broker Unit.