Guy Carpenter has appointed Michael Harden as President of Asia Pacific, effective immediately, after the former Willis Re executive recently won a court battle clearing the way for him to join the reinsurance broking firm.

Mr Harden, who previously held the equivalent role at Willis Re, will be based in Sydney and report to Guy Carpenter Asia Pacific CEO Tony Gallagher.

The position involves working with colleagues and clients across offices in the region, while having a central role in expanding the range and enhancing the delivery of client services.

“We are very excited to welcome Michael to Guy Carpenter at a time of significant evolution in the market,” Mr Gallagher said.

“With over four decades of global operating experience in (re)insurance, handling specialty accounts as well as long-standing industry relationships in the Asia Pacific region, he will certainly add further depth to our already strong presence in the market.”

Mr Harden joined Willis Re in Australia in 1991 as a director and became CEO in 2006. During his time at the company he was also CEO of Willis Re Bermuda.

As insuranceNEWS.com.au has reported, in June last year he resigned as Willis Re Asia Pacific President, giving one year’s notice, due to the announcement of Aon’s proposed takeover of Willis Towers Watson.

But Willis sought to impose a restraint period that would have prevented him joining rival Marsh McLennan-owned Guy Carpenter until the middle of next year, leading Mr Harden to take court action.

NSW Supreme Court Justice John Sackar delivered a decision in favour of Mr Harden on July 30, saying that a two-year restraint period would have been unreasonable in the circumstances.

Aon and Willis Towers Watson last month dropped their merger plans as a result of US regulatory barriers, while Arthur J. Gallagher has since announced it will buy the Willis Re treaty reinsurance business.