Ironshore opens New Zealand office

Insurer Ironshore International has launched a New Zealand office based in Auckland.

The new office will operate as a branch of Ironshore Australia, led by Katherine Simmonds, managing director of Sydney-based Ironshore.

Robert Solloway has been named Asia-Pacific regional manager, agriculture, serving in the New Zealand office.

Solloway joins Ironshore from reinsurance underwriter Novae, as part of the global agriculture team that recently merged with Ironshore’s existing specialty agribusiness group under the direction of Catherine Besselman, global divisional director.

In October 2015, Ironshore acquired the reinsurance renewal rights to Novae Group’s global agriculture reinsurance portfolio.

“Ironshore’s expansion into New Zealand complements our global distribution platform and further builds upon our foundation for growth opportunities in selected specialty sectors within the Asia Pacific region,” said Mark Wheeler, chief executive officer, Ironshore International.

“We welcome Rob to the team as his expertise will enable Ironshore to realise greater diversity in offering specialty lines products throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia,” added Simmonds.