Aviso Specialty has pulled off a major executive recruitment coup in Australian broking by announcing the appointment of two former Pacific region CEOs from major international brokers to its senior leadership team.
Josh Roach (pictured right), who departed Marsh after 15 years with the firm, has been appointed CEO, while Paul Marsden (pictured left), former Lockton Pacific CEO, joins as executive director of broking. Both Sydney-based executives bring equity stakes to their new roles, underlining their commitment to the rapidly expanding specialist broker.
"We see significant opportunity to elevate specialist broking through a model that stands apart from the more prevalent standardised approaches seen across the broader industry," said Travis Kemp, who has transitioned from CEO to executive chairman to make way for Roach's appointment.
The dual hirings represent a significant recruitment win for Aviso Specialty, which has grown to more than 150 specialists across six capital cities since its formation. The moves suggest senior executives are increasingly attracted to equity ownership and operational autonomy within well-capitalised growth platforms, even when that means leaving established global brokers.
Roach was appointed President of Marsh Pacific in January 2024, and was previously CEO of Marsh McLennan in New Zealand, President of Marsh New Zealand and Chairman of Marsh Fiji. His role saw him lead more than 2,500 Marsh colleagues across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. He departed Marsh in September last year.
Marsden helped build Lockton's Pacific operations from the ground up. Under his leadership, the privately-held broker established a strong foothold in the region, with Lockton New Zealand setting up three offices and assembling a team of 30 highly skilled professionals.
For Australia's insurance and broking community, the appointments carry significant implications. The moves suggest Aviso Specialty's model — supported by Envest, the Australian subsidiary of UK-headquartered The Ardonagh Group — is proving attractive enough to lure top-tier talent from established global players.
"I'm excited to join Aviso Specialty at a time when clients are demanding deeper insights and stronger advocacy," said Roach. "We have the foundations to build something truly unique – investing in and empowering talented people to do their best work to relentlessly serve clients in an increasingly complex risk environment."
Marsden praised his new firm's "genuinely differentiated proposition for staff and insurance buyers at a time when the market needs it most."
Roach, according to the release, will focus on scaling the business by deepening client relationships, investing in exceptional talent and strengthening insurer collaboration, building on what Aviso Specialty describes as its client-led model. Meanwhile, Marsden's board-level role provides strategic oversight to strengthen high-performing broking teams and support continued expansion.
The appointments follow what Aviso Specialty described as a period of extraordinary growth since launching in mid-2024 with its more than 150 staff across Melbourne, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Sydney and Perth.
The Ardonagh Group, Aviso Specialty's ultimate parent, ranks among the world's largest insurance distribution platforms with operations across multiple markets. This backing provides capital and market access while theoretically allowing regional operations greater flexibility than publicly-traded competitors facing quarterly earnings pressures.
For senior brokers watching these moves, it suggests career paths with equity-backed specialists are viable alternatives to traditional progression within global firms. For insurers, the appointments signal Aviso Specialty's intent to expand its market presence and client relationships significantly in Australia, potentially reshaping competitive dynamics in specialist lines and complex risk placements.
