Resilium Insurance Broking (RIB) has signed up its first authorised representative (AR) practice, Brisbane-based Goldsworthy Investments.

RIB, the new broking arm of Suncorp-owned authorised representative (AR) distributor Resilium, was formed in August to give Resilium’s AR network increased access to general insurance products.

Sydney-based RIB is led by MD Greg Arms, previously Austbrokers GM partner development. His team includes John O’Brien as Broker Distribution Manager and Michael Maksoud as Broker Operations Manager.

RIB has its own Australian financial services licence and is a member of Steadfast, giving Resilium ARs access to Steadfast’s systems, partners and underwriters.

Another Steadfast connection is the inclusion of the cluster group’s former CEO John Phillips as “executive adviser” at RIB.

“John has many years of experience in insurance broking and the insurance industry and we’ll be looking to tap into that,” Mr Arms told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Resilium ARs will be encouraged to join RIB, as will those outside the group.

Mr Arms will not reveal RIB’s projections for member numbers, but says discussions are under way with potential new partners.

He hopes to make further announcements “this side of Christmas”.

“We’re a start-up business,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We want to grow RIB, but we are also trying to build a sustainable model for the long term. We want to be a well-respected insurance broking business.”

Mr Arms says RIB will make it easier for Resilium ARs to provide a complete service to clients.

Authorised reps “will have access to a dedicated and experienced team to provide broking expertise and placement support. This will simplify the process of securing the right cover for customers.”

He says Goldsworthy is a third-generation family business and “one of the most successful advisers in the national Resilium network”.