Specialty insurer Canopius Group has announced the hiring of Mark Butterworth (pictured) as underwriter – professional lines.
This is a move designed to bolster the insurer’s presence in Melbourne and support its wider professional lines expansion across Australia.
Butterworth, who has more than 20 years’ experience in financial lines underwriting, most recently held a senior position at DUAL Australia.
His new role at Canopius will see him concentrate on expanding the insurer’s directors and officers (D&O) and professional indemnity (PI) offerings through the Open Market channel.
Butterworth will report to Rob Barnum, who leads the professional lines segment for Canopius across Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Barnum said the new addition’s industry experience and familiarity with broker expectations will be instrumental as the group looks to deepen its presence in the local market.
“As a locally authorised Lloyd’s syndicate, we’re uniquely positioned to offer brokers and clients the flexibility, experience, and service they need in a dynamic risk environment. Mark’s appointment comes at a time of significant opportunity in the PI and D&O market, where there is strong demand for tailored, innovative solutions,” he said.
Butterworth said his focus will be on understanding broker challenges and aligning coverage solutions to meet local demands.
“I’m thrilled to join Canopius at such a pivotal time for the business as it expands its presence in the professional lines and D&O market. The team’s focus on delivering flexible, service-led solutions backed by local authority and underwriting expertise strongly aligns with what brokers are looking for,” he said.
The underwriting expansion follows the earlier announcement of Andrew Ziolkowski as Canopius’s new Head of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), effective Oct. 25.
Ziolkowski brings extensive leadership experience from prior roles at QBE Insurance and the NSW Self Insurance Corporation.
As regional head, he is tasked with overseeing regulatory compliance and enhancing relationships with clients and partners across ANZ.
He will report directly to SK Lee, CEO for Canopius in the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions.
Craig Elliot, who has served as interim head of the Australian business since December 2024, will continue with Canopius as head of casualty for ANZ. In addition, he will assume the newly created role of head of distribution for the region.
The leadership and underwriting changes come as the global D&O insurance landscape continues to evolve.
According to Gallagher Specialty’s recent global market report, the post-2022 influx of new capacity has led to broader terms and more competitive pricing, but premium reductions are starting to slow.
Insurers are reassessing underwriting thresholds, and some are opting not to renew business that does not meet profitability targets. Broker-driven programs still offer access to coverage enhancements, such as entity investigations.
In Australia, market players are focusing on refining policy terms and managing exposure in lower excess layers.
