Delta appoints general manager for Australian office

Delta Insurance (Delta), a specialist New Zealand underwriting agency that recently opened for business in Australia, has appointed experienced insurance professional Tesh Patel as its new general manager for the Australian office.

Patel has more than 20 years of experience in insurance management in Australia, Asia, and the UK. He joined Delta from Allianz Australia, where he was also a general manager, specifically for commercial products and portfolios. Previously, he spent more than 11 years at IAG/Wesfarmers Insurance group in Australia and had a lengthy stint with RSA Group in Asia and the UK.

Commenting on joining Delta, Patel said he was impressed with how much the agency has achieved in New Zealand and across Asia in a short time.

“I feel humbled and privileged to join the Delta Insurance family. The success of the group has been based on innovation and a customer-centric approach, and I look forward to working with Steve and the wider Delta team to bring this to Australia,” he said.

Read more: Delta Insurance launches in Australia

Delta’s launch in Australia last month was spearheaded by former Chubb executive Stephen Carey, who took on a full underwriting managerial role, the agency’s first managerial appointment in Australia.

Delta group managing director Ian Pollard said the additional appointment to the Australian leadership team was a response to the opportunities that the agency identified in the Australian market for its unique insurance underwriting offering.

“Expanding our leadership team with broader product expertise and regional presence is really a reflection of our commitment to the Australian market and will help us better serve our customers,” Pollard said. “Mr Patel provides a complementary skill set with a strong focus on business development to meet our growth ambitions and ensure we become a specialty market leader in Australia – just as we are elsewhere.”