Gallagher has appointed three principal brokers in Australia as it helps local businesses manage increased risks to balance sheets and workplaces brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Samantha McCormack joins Gallagher’s corporate team in Melbourne while Geoff Babbage will be Sydney-based and Darren Bryan will be located in Brisbane.

Ms McCormack joins after 16 years at Aon, most recently as client director. She also spent four years at Marsh.

Mr Bryan has designed insurance programs for the Queensland Department of Transport, Queensland Rail and Gladstone Ports Corporation as well as infrastructure projects including the Queen’s Wharf and International Cruise Terminal in Brisbane.

Mr Babbage was account director at Willis Towers Watson for almost 14 years and also held roles at Jardine Lloyd Thompson and Woolworths.

Katherine Simmonds, who also joined Gallagher from Willis Towers Watson in March as Head of Corporate, says the trio have a solid industry track record and are well equipped to guide clients through “roadblocks and hurdles”.

“In a hard market cycle with shifts in capacity and increased challenges with placing certain risks, clients are valuing brokers who have significant industry and placement experience,” Ms Simmonds, who is based in North Sydney, said.

Gallagher offers broking, risk management, premium funding and offshore market placement in Australia and New Zealand.

It appointed Perth-based John Muir as manager of Professional and Financial Lines Insurance a year ago to boost its mining and energy broking capability in the WA region. Mr Muir spent seven years at Willis CKA and 11 years at CGU.

Gallagher also acquired Queensland brokerages Southbank Insurance Brokers and CA Insurance Brokers in recent months.

“The current market presents a number of significant and complex risk challenges for corporate organisations, and we will continue to invest in the places that ensures we are in the strongest position to help clients where they need us most,” CEO of Australian Broking Sarah Lyons said.