Assurex Global Adds New Partners in Europe and Pacific Rim

Columbus, Ohio-based Assurex Global has added new partners in Australia, Switzerland and Austria. OAMPS Insurance Brokers, Ltd. in Australia; GWP Insurance Brokers in Switzerland; and Assurance Partners Versicherungsmakler – ­und beratung GmbH in Austria were named Assurex Global Partners.

OAMPS Insurance Brokers is headquartered in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is the largest Australian-owned brokerage in the country. Executive Director Brian Austin said, “Our firm is thrilled to align itself with Assurex Global, because we share the same goal—providing clients with the programs and services they need to compete on an international basis, regardless of where their business may take them. Having the extensive partner network of Assurex Global makes this client-service goal obtainable.”

GWP Insurance Brokers has three branch offices throughout Switzerland, with a main office in the Zurich area. It ranks as one of the country’s largest insurance brokerages. “We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding local service, and our Assurex Global partnership allows us to offer our clients superb global services,” said CEO Christoph Meier.

Assurance Partners, based in Vienna, Austria, was founded by Alexander Seel, who serves as CEO. In addition to his expertise in the local Austrian market, Seel brings to the brokerage extensive experience in varied insurance endeavors throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Vienna is the home of some 300 Central and Eastern European headquarters of multinational companies, so it can be seen as a bridge between Central and Eastern Europe, said Seel.

“We understand in detail what businesses need to effectively operate in a world market,” Seel said, “and our partnership in Assurex Global is vital in that it provides access to industry experts on six continents and in more than 75 countries.”

International Executive Committee

Assurex Global also has named new members of its International Executive Committee (IEC). The IEC oversees the selection and ongoing evaluation of independent brokers outside of North America and advises the board of directors on international strategy. Recently appointed IEC members include:

Jan R. Bednarz, MJ Insurance, Inc., Indianapolis, IN;
Peter Bergman, EDP Assurance AB, Gothenburg, Sweden;
Robin Harman, HSBC Insurance Brokers Ltd., London;
David J. Kohl, Roach Howard Smith & Hunter, Inc., Dallas; and
Raymond Sit, HSBC Insurance Brokers (Asia-Pacific) Limited, Wanchai, Hong Kong (second term).

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies Europe Australia