Lumley NZ has bought underwriting agency Australis Marine and renamed it the Marine Centre of Expertise.

Paul Munton is now heading up the business in his capacity as GM of Lumley NZ’s Broker Products. Former Australis Marine MD Peter Cooper is staying on as a consultant before retiring at the end of the year.

The other three former Australis Marine shareholders – Terry Mutimer, John Laupama and Rick Johnstone – have been retained as senior underwriters.

“We are going to provide brokers with better cross-sell opportunities, with clearer and better access across the full range of Lumley products,” a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.