Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has announced plans to enter the healthcare underwriting market in Australia.
The company aims to offer a full line of coverages, including property, casualty and executive and professional lines for hospitals and medical practices and facilities in the country.
The new business will be led by Tony Bainbridge, who most recently served as regional head of Healthcare, Asia Pacific, at AIG.
Based in Melbourne, Bainbridge has also worked with Newline Group, Avant Mutual, Munich Re Australasia and Swiss Reinsurance Company.
BHSI Australasia Region president Chris Colahan said: "We look forward to bringing customized healthcare solutions and capacity to the Australian marketplace and are pleased to have an executive of Tony’s caliber to lead our expansion into this dynamic industry."
The company is also set to underwrite property and casualty insurance in New Zealand after securing its licence from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
The operations will be carried out from its newly opened office in the capital city of Auckland.
BHSI global president and chief executive officer Peter Eastwood said: "We open our doors in Auckland with a highly experienced team, a broad appetite for property and casualty risks, and a commitment to providing responsive and enduring solutions to the marketplace."
The division would be led by country manager Cameron McLisky, who was most recently regional financial lines manager at AIG Asia Pacific.
Other BHSI appointments in New Zealand include Doug Thomson as Property and Energy Manager, Anthony Posa as Casualty Manager, while Megan Howe has been named as claims manager.
Image: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has expanded its footprint in Australia and New Zealand. Photo: courtesy of Mark Hirschey.