Gallagher’s new head of claims for Australia and Asia says his team will need to keep pace with the brokerage’s “aggressive” growth trajectory.

Dennis Dalati has returned to Australia after 15 years based in Singapore, most recently as head of claims for Marsh Asia and before that with Aon.

“It’s amazing to be back in Australia, reacquainting myself with the Australian market and industry,” Mr Dalati told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“I’m trying to align our claims proposition with [the business’] growth, to see how we can best serve the growth that we’re experiencing right now.”

Mr Dalati has taken up the role following the departure of former claims head Adam Squire, now at Lockton, earlier this year.

He says he has followed recent claims trends and challenges in Australia, including the 2022 floods and subsequent parliamentary inquiry, and finds natural catastrophes present a different test compared with Asia.

“When you have nat cats in Asia, it tends not to be volume-driven. Even though there’s newsworthy damage, that middle market is largely uninsured.

“But it is a pretty unique situation in Australia, and it’s a fairly mature market here in terms of penetration. We have flooding, we have fires. I mean, it’s just volume across the board. Everybody has some sort of insurance.

“So resourcing is always going to be a pinch point when it comes to those type of losses. And I’m sure that from time to time there are frustrations.”

Gallagher’s claims team has been strengthened in recent months, with Brigid Allen recruited from HFW to become national claims manager for professional and financial risks, and David McIntosh joining as managing principal, moving from C Lewis & Company.