Zurich has launched a national underwriting and service team dedicated to authorised representatives.

AR Advance includes specialist underwriters and relationship management associates dedicated to supporting authorised representatives across SME and mid-market property, liability and motor.

“As the AR sector continues to rapidly grow, the need for streamlined and dedicated support has never been more important.” Zurich head of general insurance Alex Morgan said.

“Unlike other market offerings, AR Advance provides direct access to dedicated underwriters, in addition to service teams, to support faster turnaround times, clear communication and practical support.”

Mr Morgan says ARs are typically highly entrepreneurial, “hyperlocal” and have strong relationships with their customer bases, which often include a mix of SME and middle market clients.

“What we have heard from our ARs, who are a big part of our business today, is they feel they want and should be given a differentiated proposition,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“They want an insurer that is responsive, an insurer they are able to access when they have questions, queries or want to negotiate, and they want to be able to deal with decision-makers.”

AR Advance covers Insurance Advisernet, McLardy McShane, Envest Networks, Ausure, Oracle Group, UIG, MGA, Community Broker Network and emerging AR networks.

Mr Morgan says at its core, AR Advance is about providing services to individual authorised representatives, who may leave client meetings and want to talk to an underwriter for a decision without delays.

“We want to be there and available, and we want to match the speed they’re trying to trade at,” he said.

AR Advance is available alongside established state-based Zurich teams, which authorised representatives can continue to access.

Mr Morgan says Zurich’s Australian general insurance business holds a strong position in the market and has significant growth ambitions.

“Investing in propositions like AR Advance play an important role in the continued improvement of our customer service, as well as supporting our broader focus on innovating and scaling.”