Zurich Insurance Group has created two new roles in its Commercial Insurance Underwriting unit, a move it says will deliver improved efficiency across the business.

Chris Waterman, who oversaw the Australian business on an interim basis when former CEO Raj Nanra left suddenly in 2018, will assume the position of Global Head of Property, Marine and Technical Lines.

He was most recently Head of Commercial Lines Underwriting APAC based in Singapore, and will relocate to Zurich for his new role.

Ralph Brand, who rejoined Zurich last year as Global Head of Casualty, takes up the other new position of Global Head of Casualty, Financial Lines and Cyber.

“The insurance industry continues to evolve, and having the ability to provide customers with tailor-made services, solutions and advice is critical for our future success,” Commercial Insurance Chief Underwriting Officer Sierra Signorelli said.

“This new setup will enable us to combine our expertise and resources across business lines and make better and more efficient underwriting decisions for our customers.”