Talbot expands Australian presence with Axis hires

Talbot Underwriting, a wholly owned subsidiary of Validus Holdings, has appointed David McKenzie and David Jones as class underwriters of Talbot’s financial lines team.

The new hires will establish a local presence for Talbot’s financial lines business in Australia and drive growth in the region.

McKenzie has more than 25 years of experience in insurance, alternative insurance products and financial markets. He joins the firm from Axis Specialty Australia, where he served as state manager of Queensland. He has also formerly had roles at Aon and Willis.

Jones also joins from Axis Specialty Australia, where he was state manager of Victoria. He has previously held roles at Chubb Insurance and Commonwealth Bank of Australia and has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance and banking markets.

“We are thrilled to welcome David McKenzie and David Jones to the Talbot team here in Australia,” said Adam Matteson, managing director at Talbot Australia.

He added: “Having worked in Brisbane, Sydney and London, Talbot’s new recruits have a proven track record of developing unique solutions for the Australian financial institutions market. I look forward to the opportunities they will bring to our organisation.”

James Skinner, active underwriter at Talbot, commented: “As Talbot expands its platform in Australia, it is imperative that we bring in talented individuals with deep expertise in Australia’s financial institutions sector.

“I am confident that their experience and knowledge of the market will be invaluable as we continue to support our clients and grow our footprint in the region.”