Arch Insurance Australia and law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley have announced a series of senior appointments across underwriting, claims, and insurance-related legal services in the Australian market. The changes affect Arch’s local insurance operations and Colin Biggers & Paisley’s employment, safety, and insurance practices.
Arch Insurance Australia has appointed Joe Donovan (pictured left) as deputy regional manager, effective immediately. Donovan is based in Melbourne and will coordinate activity across Arch’s business functions, including product and service delivery and operational processes. He will retain his existing responsibilities for claims management and will continue to report to regional manager Dominic Brannigan. Donovan has nearly 15 years of experience in the insurance sector. He joined Arch in 2017 and has been serving as claims manager. Earlier in his career, he held claims roles at Chubb Insurance and Zurich Financial Services Australia.
Brannigan said the appointment draws on internal experience within the business. “Joe’s promotion shows the strong talent we have within our Australian business. His wealth of technical and market knowledge will be critical as we continue to deliver more impactful products and services and further enhance our reputation as a responsive partner to our brokers,” Brannigan said. Kirsten Valder, deputy CEO of Arch Insurance International, said the move is part of the company’s regional plans. “Joe’s appointment forms an important part of our ongoing growth in Australia as well as our ambition to boost our market relevance and serve our clients on a broader scale,” Valder said.
Arch has also promoted Melbourne-based executive Marita Elliott (pictured right) to head of underwriting operations and compliance. In the role, Elliott is responsible for supporting Arch’s underwriting strategy across both binder arrangements and open market business. She joined Arch in 2015 and was most recently underwriting operations and compliance manager. Elliott has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry and will report to Donovan.
Separately, Colin Biggers & Paisley has confirmed senior promotions within its employment & safety team and insurance group, effective Jan. 1. The firm has promoted employment and insurance practitioner Leanne Dearlove to partner and insurance lawyer Emily Panizza to senior associate.
Managing partner Dr. Andrew Murray said the appointments recognise the lawyers’ work with clients and within the firm’s practice groups. “Leanne and Emily are to be congratulated on their significant contributions to our practice and to their respective sectors of focus across employment and safety and insurance. As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, these recent promotions reflect our continued growth and commitment to supporting and developing our talented lawyers delivering excellent legal services to our clients,” Murray said.
Dearlove advises employers on a range of workplace issues, including restructures, performance management, and employee absences, as well as child protection matters. She represents employers in disputes involving unfair dismissal, general protections claims, and stop bullying applications. She also acts for insurers and insureds on employment practices liability (EPL) matters, working on the resolution or defence of claims brought under EPL policies. Dearlove has developed a client base across the education, aged and in-home care, faith-based, and not-for-profit sectors, and works with Queensland local government clients.
Panizza advises Australian and London market insurers on professional indemnity matters involving accountants, liquidators, barristers, and construction professionals. She has six years of commercial litigation experience, with work spanning financial services disputes and class actions.
The promotions of Dearlove and Panizza form part of a wider round of senior appointments across Colin Biggers & Paisley offices and practice areas that intersect with insurance risk, coverage, and claims. Recent promotions include:
