Gallagher has appointed principal brokers in NSW, Victoria and Queensland to help businesses manage a number of significant and complex risk challenges presented by the current market.

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

The trio bring “a solid industry track record and are highly respected in their field”, Head of Corporate Katherine Simmonds says.

“All have experienced hard market environments and are well-equipped to guide clients through the roadblocks and hurdles to achieve the best available outcomes on their insurance placement.”

Gallagher says corporate organisations are facing increased risks to balance sheets and workplaces brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The broker is focusing on challenging clients’ existing insurance arrangements and testing new placement strategies to make sure their insurance outlays produce robust risk mitigation.

“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 says.

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

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

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.