Hutch Underwriting has introduced two senior appointments as it prepares to launch its Landlords Insurance product later this month, marking a significant expansion in its personal lines portfolio.
Melodi Emadi (pictured right) has been promoted to head of distribution, a new position created to strengthen broker engagement across the company’s product range.
Previously managing Hutch’s residential strata portfolio, Emadi has played a central role in shaping product strategy since the agency’s inception.
CEO Robin Johnson said the addition of a distribution-focused leadership role comes at a time of business growth and an evolving product suite.
“With four products already in market and two on the horizon, including our upcoming Landlord Insurance launch, the time was right to invest in dedicated distribution leadership. Melodi brings a sharp commercial lens and deep broker insight to the role. She will focus on strategic partnerships and continue to elevate the Hutch experience across all distribution channels,” he said.
Emadi will lead broker relationship strategy and oversee the consistency of distribution channels across both established and new offerings.
Alongside the distribution announcement, Hutch has appointed Gayle Harmar (pictured left) as head of personal lines.
Her remit includes oversight of underwriting teams across residential strata and landlord segments.
Harmar, who has over 20 years of underwriting experience in both Australia and the UK, has contributed to the design of the upcoming landlord product.
The new insurance cover will be made available through digital distribution platforms, including Ebix Sunrise Exchange and SCTP.
Dominique Vagi, co-founder and chief underwriting officer at Hutch, said the appointment is part of a longer-term strategy to scale personal lines capabilities.
“We’re delighted to have Gayle leading personal lines for us as we bring our approach to the innovative launch into the landlords market,” she said.
The new appointments reflect Hutch’s operational alignment around broker support and tailored residential insurance, with the Landlords Insurance product forming the next phase of its expansion.
The announcement follows recent industry findings indicating gaps in how rental property risks are managed by landlords.
QBE Insurance recently published research based on an April 2025 survey of 500 landlords, highlighting uneven inspection practices and underinsurance in the rental sector.
The report showed that 16% of respondents either inspected properties only once per year, did not inspect at all, or were unsure of inspection frequency.
The remainder said they conducted checks every three months (38%) or twice a year (46%).
In addition to inspection frequency, the survey revealed that 38% of landlords would face financial strain within two to six weeks if rental income were disrupted or if a property became uninhabitable. However, only 56% held landlord-specific policies.
The findings also noted that 34% of landlords had tenants fall behind on rent, and 30% experienced tenant-related damage.
Of those with losses, 17% were not covered, in some cases due to policies lacking features such as rent default protection.
