Munich Re Specialty Enters Australian Primary Specialty Insurance Market

Munich Re Specialty announced its entry into the Australian primary specialty insurance market, providing property, construction & engineering, mining, and surety insurance products to commercial and mid-market clients.

Munich Re Specialty said the launch of its Australian business further validates its strategic growth plan which places expert underwriters and claims managers in close proximity to customer demands.

Chris Mackinnon will lead the business and be responsible for driving profitable growth and fostering key relationships among primary specialty brokers and clients across the region. Mackinnon is a widely recognized market leader and was recently awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).

Prior to joining Munich Re Specialty, Mackinnon spent nine years as Lloyd’s General Representative in Australia, before moving to Singapore in 2024 to take on a new role as regional director for Lloyd’s across the Asia Pacific, Middle East and African regions.

He previously served as a director of the Insurance Council of Australia, the Underwriting Agencies Council, and sat on the NSW Divisional Committee of the National Insurance Brokers Association.

In other appointments, Chris Harnett has been named head of Underwriting, Angus Kench is taking on the role of head of Claims, and Alison Percival is head of Partnerships.

Munich Re Specialty’s Australian business will be headquartered in Sydney, an existing hub for Munich Re’s expertise in corporate and reinsurance solutions.

The market entry builds on Munich Re Specialty’s existing presence in the Asia Pacific region with offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai.

Source: Munich Re Specialty