Lion Underwriting has hired Chris Edwards as head of professional lines, as the agency pursues growth in the area.

Mr Edwards joins tomorrow from Steadfast-owned Quanta, bringing more than 22 years’ experience.

Lion director Nathan Hepple says Mr Edwards’ client-centric mindset and market knowledge make him an ideal fit for the underwriting agency.

“I’ve known Chris professionally for over seven years; his track record is impressive and clear,” he said. “Through his career to date, he has attracted the support of more than 10 Lloyd’s syndicates, some of which potentially would never have stepped foot on Australian soil without Chris at their side locally.”

Lion’s professional lines offering extends across professional indemnity, directors’ and officers’ cover, cyber, management liability and medical malpractice.  

Mr Edwards will work alongside Bec Gottstein and Adam Thackeray, who head up the casualty and property portfolios respectively.

The appointment comes less than a year after Lion’s founder, the late Kurt Nilsen, said his business was positioning for growth.

Mr Edwards says Lion is forward-thinking and not constrained by the red tape so often seen in large entities.

“Clients don’t need added layers of complication ... they need solutions and people they can trust when things feel messy,” he said.

“While Lion is nimble and modern, there is also a clear internal desire to ensure legacy is protected. I was fortunate enough to meet Kurt some years ago and I’m now invested and respectful of being a part of protecting his legacy.”  

Lion’s professional lines team also includes underwriter Dylan Webb, assistant underwriter Yvonne McCauley, and Fiona Mckenzie, who recently joined as an underwriter after moving from the UK, where she worked at a Lloyd’s broker.

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