Legal Expense Insurance (LEI) specialist ARAG Services Australia has promoted Natasha Gale to CEO after the family-owned German business quickly scaled up in size here to support a local chief.

ARAG launched in Australia in 2019 and says that under the stewardship of Antoinette von Wendt, who moves into the COO role, the business has established itself “to the point where the global strategy of employing local leadership teams now makes sense”.

Sydney-based Ms Gale held the MD and Director roles at ARAG in Australia and has worked in insurance and banking for more than two decades, including senior positions at Allianz, Wesfarmers Insurance, icare and Westpac.

“Natasha has done an excellent job in the last 12 months and I am excited to have her lead our Australian team,” ARAG SE Speaker of the Management Board Renko Dirksen said.

Ms Gale takes on the challenge of growing what is “a relatively unknown product in Australia” even though LEI is as common in Europe as health insurance is locally.

“That makes the local growth potential for us huge,” Ms Gale said. “I look forward to continuing our work with our broker partners and local stakeholders. These relationships, along with the continued commitment to this market by head office in Germany and the hiring of strong talent into the team, will be key to driving our local growth.”

Ms von Wendt, who will return to Germany next year, says Ms Gale has quickly built momentum and her experience and expertise in transformational change set her up as “the perfect leader to take ARAG the next step in Australia".

“After 2.5 amazing years as CEO of ARAG Australia it’s time to pass the baton to Natasha Gale,” Ms von Wendt said on LinkedIn.

“Thanks to everyone who supported me in the exciting and sometimes challenging times of building and starting a new underwriting agency in Australia. I’m pleased to see the rising awareness of ARAG Legal Expense Insurance in Australia and looking forward to seeing what the future brings.”

Family-owned ARAG says its expansion into Australia was an “obvious move” as the nation is the second most litigious country behind the US. ARAG operates in 19 countries where it sets up local-based teams.

ARAG Services Australia LEI is underwritten by HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia and says its goal is to expand in Before-the-Event legal expense insurance portfolios.