Lloyd’s reinsurer MS Amlin has expanded its footprint in Asia-Pacific (APAC) with a new branch office in Sydney. 

The new branch will operate as part of MS Amlin Pacific, the company’s APAC reinsurance business.  

This move is pending approval from Lloyd’s and comes as a “growing proportion of risks” written by MS Amlin’s APAC team originates from Australia and New Zealand, the company said in a statement.  

The company has also emphasised that the Australian branch will be “accretive”, rather than disrupt the existing portfolio managed from London. 

Matt Botfield has been appointed as head of Australia and New Zealand to support the existing client portfolio and ongoing broker relationships handled by the Singapore-based APAC team. 

Botfield’s role will also encompass new business development and leveraging MS Amlin’s underwriting capabilities to tailor solutions for clients in the region.  

Most recently, Botfield served at Aon Reinsurance China, holding the role of chief operating officer for Greater China and CEO of Alternate Insurance Authority Hong Kong. 

Earlier, he held various senior positions at Aon Benfield, including head of property for Australia and New Zealand, during his 14-year tenure there. 

Under the leadership of APAC CEO Will Ho, MS Amlin already offers a range of reinsurance solutions across casualty, property and speciality lines.  

Ho said: “We are excited to expand our presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with the launch of a dedicated branch in Australia, where we see significant untapped potential. Matt’s appointment highlights our ambition to grow in this dynamic region and secure new high quality business including domestic risks that typically wouldn’t come into Lloyd’s.

“With his extensive local market knowledge and well-established relationships, Matt will play a key role in helping us capture these opportunities in Australia and New Zealand.  We look forward to leveraging the full strength of MS Amlin’s underwriting and claims expertise to support the market’s growing reinsurance needs.” 

Last month, MS Amlin bound a reinsurance scheme, with support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Aon, for assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine.