William Lewis will continue as the Asia-Pacific Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for specialist global insurer Ironshore after taking up his new role as the company’s Australian MD.

As reported by insuranceNEWS.com.au in a Breaking News bulletin on Thursday, he takes over the top Australian role from Katherine Simmonds, who has left the company.

“We are pleased to announce that William will assume the role of leading our multi-line insurance offerings throughout the Australia and New Zealand markets,” Ironshore Asia-Pacific MD Hui Yun Boo said.

“His proven expertise and recognised leadership in structuring insurance coverage solutions for complex risks have made him a valuable member of our regional team.”

Mr Lewis joined Ironshore in 2012 as a mergers and acquisitions manager in Sydney and was promoted to head the specialty business lines unit last year.

In his new role he will be seeking to drive growth within the Australian and New Zealand markets.

“We will continue to focus on our core lines and expand into other lines where we see opportunity and favourable market conditions,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

New York-based Ironshore was acquired by Liberty Mutual this year, with the $US3 billion ($4 billion) deal completed in early May.

“We are not expecting any changes to the Australian business following the Liberty Mutual takeover,” Mr Lewis said. “We remain two separate competing businesses within the region.”

Ironshore Australia was established in 2011 and underwrites specialty corporate and commercial coverages across all business lines through the region.

Ms Simmonds, who joined Ironshore in 2012, declined to comment to insuranceNEWS.com.au on the reason for her departure last month.

The merger of Liberty Mutual and Ironshore created the sixth-largest underwriter of excess and surplus lines in the US.