Canopius Group on Monday announced the appointment of Tesh Patel as Head of Distribution for Australia and New Zealand, effective 6 January 2026.
In his new role, Sydney-based Patel reports to Paul Hackett, Head of Distribution and Marine, APAC & MENA, and Andrew Ziolkowski, Country Head of Australia & Pacific and Head of Insurance, APAC.
He joins from Delta Insurance, where he helped establish the managing general agent by opening offices in Sydney and Brisbane and bringing new products to market, and most recently served as Managing Director.
Patel brings more than 20 years of experience in insurance leadership, portfolio management, and distribution strategy, including senior roles at Allianz and IAG, where he managed portfolios exceeding US$1bn.
“Tesh’s proven ability to build businesses and deliver strategic growth makes him an outstanding addition to our leadership team,” said Ziolkowski. “His deep understanding of the ANZ market and commitment to innovation will be instrumental in enhancing our distribution capabilities and supporting our growth ambitions in the region.”
The appointment comes as Canopius accelerates its expansion in Asia Pacific. In November, regional head Soon Keen Lee told (Re)in Asia that the business is seeking to grow its reinsurance operations, moving toward a roughly 50/50 split between reinsurance and direct insurance.
The Lloyd’s player is expanding its Singapore team as it pursues growth in Southeast Asia, as well as across Australia and New Zealand, with an emphasis on the mid-market segment.
