Global catastrophe modeller RMS is growing its business in Australia and New Zealand with the opening of an office in Sydney.

The Silicon Valley-based modeller’s focus in the region will be on helping insurers and reinsurers adopt new models and advising superannuation funds on investing in insurance-linked securities.

MD Pierre Wiart says updates on cyclone and earthquake models for Australia will be available next year.

“RMS has first-rate modelling capability for this region,” he said. “My task is to make clients’ adoption seamless and help them underwrite the best book of business, based upon best-in-class models.”

Dr Wiart returned to RMS last month after leaving more than a decade ago for Aon Re Australia, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He has worked for IAG Re, Scor and White Mountains Re in Bermuda.