Former QBE global head of distribution Terry Ibbotson has returned to the local market as Group Commercial Director at Arthur J Gallagher Australia.

Mr Ibbotson is best known for his work building QBE’s local business, most recently as Australian operations CEO.

As insuranceNEWS.com.au reported in a Breaking News bulletin last week, Mr Ibbotson began working at Gallagher’s north Sydney head office last Monday.

He will oversee the company’s growth strategy, with particular focus on the development of culture, structure, operational practices and processes, and future acquisitions.

Arthur J Gallagher Australasia CEO Andrew Godden says Mr Ibbotson has extensive experience from the “ground floor up” and will help align the company’s business culture and objectives.

“The opportunity of getting someone of Terry’s experience and quality should make us stronger and better at doing that,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Mr Ibbotson has more than 40 years’ experience in the insurance industry. He was the driving force behind QBE Mercantile Mutual, a joint venture with ING that was formed in 1999.

In 2011, when Mr Ibbotson retired from QBE, insuranceNEWS.com.au described him as a change management expert who is “highly regarded in the industry”.