Chris Mackinnon will deputise for Lloyd’s Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa Regional Director Iain Ferguson in an expanded role.

Sydney-based Mr Mackinnon will support Mr Ferguson in regional activities in addition to retaining his role as Lloyd’s Australia and New Zealand Regional Head.

"We have a very strong team here now which frees me up to address the regional strategy,” Mr Mackinnon tells insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“I’m really excited about it. It’s an opportunity for me to step up and be more involved. It gives us more management bandwith across the region.”

Mr Mackinnon says that after the promotion it will be “business as usual in Australia and New Zealand,” while allowing him to play a greater role in rolling out Lloyd’s commercial strategy across the region.

Also working with Mr Mackinnon in Sydney are Regulatory and Compliance Manager Dipali Dongre, Dispute Resolution Manager Peter Plustwik, Head of Regulatory Affairs & Compliance – Asia Pacific Tracey Bryan, Market Development Manager ANZ Evan Ainslie, and Customer Standards Manager Natalie Whitbread.

On the board at the Insurance Council of Australia and Underwriting Agencies Council, Mr Mackinnon has been at Lloyd’s since 2015 and was formerly CEO at Gow-Gates Insurance Brokers and held senior roles at Gallagher, Aon and Marsh.

Over the last eight years he has supported the Lloyd’s market’s growth in Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu during significant regulatory reform and challenging climate-related claims events, Lloyd’s said.

Lloyd’s underwriters offer tailored solutions in over 60 lines of insurance and reinsurance in Australia, including extreme natural events, professional liability, accident and health, construction, real estate, transport, energy, cyber threat, terrorism and political instability.