Arthur J Gallagher has announced that Dick Heath has been appointed to head up a new regional hub, Arthur J Gallagher Asia.

Heath becomes managing director of Singapore and joins a 15-strong team focused on retail marine cargo and trade credit, wholesale property and energy, and reinsurance. In his new role Heath will have responsibility for expanding Arthur J Gallagher’s Singapore business as well as developing investment opportunities across the region. Heath will maintain an involvement in Australia as head of FinPro Asia Pacific.

“Asia represents a strong business development opportunity for the international divisions of Arthur J Gallagher and our experts in Singapore have created a first-class platform for further expansion and Dick’s own specialty line expertise, together with his proven leadership skills, will ensure we maximise the potential for profitable growth across the region,” says John Hastings-Bass, the firm’s chairman of Asia Pacific.

Heath joined Arthur J Gallagher Australia in February 2013 as national practice leader, specialty lines, having been New South Wales state manager for AIG before that.