New Zealand’s Delta Insurance has appointed Tesh Patel as GM at its Australian office, as the specialist commercial underwriting agency looks to grow its business here.

The recruitment of Mr Patel, who joins from Allianz Australia where he was GM of Commercial Products and Portfolios, follows the opening of an office in Brisbane this year, Delta’s first in the country.

Before Allianz, Mr Patel was with IAG/Wesfarmers Insurance group in Australia for more than 11 years and had a lengthy stint with RSA Group in Asia and the UK.

Delta Insurance Group MD Ian Pollard says the appointment of Mr Patel to the Australian leadership team was in response to the opportunities identified in the local market for the agency’s different and unique insurance underwriting offering.

“Expanding our leadership team with broader product expertise and regional presence is really a reflection of our commitment to the Australian market, and will help us better serve our customers,” Mr Pollard said.

“Mr Patel provides a complementary skill set, with a strong focus on business development to meet our growth ambitions and ensure we become a specialty market leader here in Australia - just as we are elsewhere.”

He says Delta’s first managerial appointment in Australia, Steve Carey, will take up a full underwriting managerial role.