Lloyd’s Regional Head of Australia and New Zealand Chris Mackinnon will broaden his horizons in a new role as Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa markets. 

He takes over from Iain Ferguson, who is retiring at the end of the year, and will move from Sydney to Singapore, Lloyd’s says in an internal email to its employees seen by insuranceNEWS.com.au. 

Lloyd’s expects to announce Mr Mackinnon’s replacement in coming weeks. 

The appointment is part of a planned succession, after Lloyd’s announced last year that Mr Mackinnon would deputise for Mr Ferguson, who will remain in his other role as Lloyd’s Japan President until December 31. 

“This change is planned well in advance to allow for a smooth transition of management responsibility,” UK-based Commercial Director Dawn Miller said. “Chris takes on the role with a wealth of experience behind him.” 

Mr Mackinnon joined Lloyd’s in February 2015 as general representative for Australia and New Zealand. 

Under his watch, Lloyd’s has grown its Australia business from about $2 billion of premium written to more than $4.6 billion last year. 

The number of coverholders has increased from 90 to more than 160. 

“It’s nine years since I’ve joined and we’ve had significant market growth,” Mr Mackinnon told insuranceNEWS.com.au today. 

“Probably to me the thing I am most proud of in my nine years is the team of people I’ve built at Lloyd’s Australia … I think that for a market the size of Australia to have only 13 people and managing $4.6 billion worth of transactions that go through says an awful lot about the team of people that we’ve been able to build.” 

Mr Mackinnon says he will still run Australia and New Zealand “but we will have local managers who look after things on the ground like I am at the moment”.