Lion Underwriting has appointed Chris Edwards as Head of Professional Lines, the managing general agent announced in a media release on Wednesday.
Edwards joins from Steadfast-owned Quanta Insurance Group, where he was Executive General Manager specialising in professional liability underwriting. At Quanta, he worked with local and international insurers to develop scheme arrangements across a range of professions.
With more than 22 years in the insurance sector, Edwards will lead Lion’s professional lines portfolio, which spans professional indemnity, directors and officers, cyber, management liability, and medical malpractice. He will work alongside Bec Gottstein and Adam Thackeray, who head Lion’s Casualty and Property portfolios respectively.
Lion Director Nathan Hepple said Edwards’ client-focused approach and market knowledge made him an ideal fit.
“I’ve known Chris professionally for over seven years; his track record is impressive and clear. Through his career to date, he’s attracted the support of more than ten Lloyd’s syndicates, some of which potentially would never have stepped foot on Australian soil without Chris at their side locally,” Hepple said.
Edwards said Lion’s approach aligned with his professional experience. “Lion started with one man and a dream, and that is not dissimilar to how I built my name in the sector.”
Edwards will lead a professional lines team that includes Dylan Webb, Yvonne McCauley, and Fiona McKenzie, who joined this month after three years with a Lloyd’s broker in the UK.
Edwards’ move comes as Quanta’s parent, Steadfast Group, reported 11.9% profit growth and completed the acquisition of Brisbane-based insurtech Insurebot to enhance technology across its broker network.
