Latest Australia Headlines
All the headlines from our Australia Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Why Australia’s IAG Decided to Halt China Expansion Plans
Oct 16 2015 // When Insurance Australia Group, the country’s largest general insurer, announced ambitious plans in June to ramp up its business in Mainland China, several institutional investors including Jason Kim were seriously...
Insurance Australia Scraps Plans for Further China Investment
Oct 15 2015 // Insurance Australia Group Ltd. scrapped plans for further investment in China and will instead seek growth in other Asian markets, in a sign that Australia’s hopes of boosting services exports to the world’s...
AXIS to Close Australian Retail Operations, Cut 100 Jobs
Oct 7 2015 // AXIS Capital Holdings Limited announced it will wind down its retail insurance operations in Australia and continue to operate in the market via its international wholesale insurance and global reinsurance platforms. As a...
Insurance Australia CEO Wilkins to Retire Next Month; Harmer Named Successor
Oct 7 2015 // Insurance Australia Group Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Mike Wilkins will step down next month after seven years at the helm and be replaced by Peter Harmer, the company said in a regulatory filing Wednesday. Harmer, 54,...
El Nino Expected to Peak at Year’s End
Sep 15 2015 // El Nino will peak around the end of the year as warming sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean may exceed those seen during the record event almost two decades ago. Recent oceanic and atmospheric indicators are at levels...
BHSI Enters Australia Construction Insurance Market; Appoints Team Execs
Sep 8 2015 // Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) announced it is providing comprehensive insurance and services for the construction industry in Australia and named a team of executives to oversee key areas of its...
What El Niño Means for the Coming Winter in U.S.
Sep 2 2015 // How the weather plays out in the next six months will have a lot to say about the California drought, snow in the Northeast and even the price of natural gas. A strong El Nino in the equatorial Pacific will make itself...
El Nino in Pacific Strongest Since Record Event in 1997-1998
Sep 1 2015 // The El Nino that’s changing weather across the globe is now the strongest since the record event almost two decades ago. Sea temperature anomalies in the central Pacific Ocean are now at their highest since...
QBE Appoints Lingafelter as Managing Director of Asia Pacific Region
Aug 31 2015 // QBE Insurance has appointed Mark Lingafelter as managing director of its Asia Pacific region with effect from September 1, 2015. Based in Singapore, Lingafelter will be accountable for the ongoing execution of the QBE Asia...
Willis Completes Acquisition of Australia’s CKA Risk Solutions
Aug 20 2015 // Willis Australia, part of Willis Group Holdings plc, announced the completion of its acquisition of CKA Risk Solutions. The announcement noted that “CKA is a leading independent broker based in Perth with a strong...
Zurich Launches Management Liability Offering for SMEs in Australia
Aug 13 2015 // Zurich is launching a new management liability offering, specifically designed to protect small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Australia, with turnovers up to AUD$50 million. The new product will be provided via...
France Expands Search for MH 370 Debris at Malaysia’s Request
Aug 7 2015 // The French government has responded to a request from Malaysia for more help in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane. France said it would send planes, boats and helicopters to scour the coast of the remote...
Malaysia Says Maintenance Records Prove Wing Part Is from Flight MH370
Aug 6 2015 // Malaysia said on Thursday that paint color and maintenance-record matches prove that a piece of wing found on the shore of the French Island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean was part of the wreckage of Malaysian Airlines...
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Enters Marine Insurance Market in Australia & N.Z.
Aug 4 2015 // Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Enters Marine Insurance Market in Australia & N.Z Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) announced that it has begun underwriting Marine Insurance in Australia and New...
QBE Names Fagen as Group Chief Strategy Officer; Plant Is Promoted
Jul 29 2015 // Sydney, Australia-headquartered QBE has appointed Colin Fagen as group chief strategy officer, in a new role “designed to create a strong platform for growth across the group,” according to Group Chief...
Beazley Launches New Insurance Product for Australian Expat Workers
Jul 23 2015 // Specialist insurer Beazley has launched Expatriate Medical and Emergency Evacuation, a new tailored insurance solution for Australian employees who live and work overseas. The product combines elements of both health and...
JLT Australia Deploys NetSuite Cloud Solution to Run Entire Business Life Cycle
Jul 15 2015 // Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) Australia, a subsidiary of the London-based insurance, reinsurance and employee benefits firm, has deployed NetSuite OpenAir cloud professional services automation (PSA) solution to run the...
Spate of Climate Change Reports Ahead of Global Summit
Jul 2 2015 // Ahead of December’s big and much-talked about United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21 or CMP11, it seems there’s been an information ramp up of sorts. I’m not just talking about Pope...
Beazley Launches Business Travel Insurance in Australia
Jul 2 2015 // Specialist insurer Beazley has launched its first international business travel insurance product in the Australian market. Beazley Corporate Travel Insurance will be offered to Australian brokers and coverholders. Beazley...
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Expands in Australia, New Zealand
Jun 30 2015 // Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. (BHSI) said it is entering the healthcare underwriting market in Australia, and has appointed Tony Bainbridge, previously with American International Group (AIG), to lead the...
