Liberty Speciality Markets (LSM) has appointed Andrew Beechey as head of global financial risks for the Asia Pacific region.

Beechey joins LSM having been deputy head of the London credit and political risk team at Zurich, where he worked for nine years. He will be permanently based in Singapore from September as part of the Liberty International Underwriters Asia team, working until then in LSM’s London headquarters.

Reporting to LSM’s head of global financial risks Peter Sprent and regional leader of LIU Asia Ben Hissey, Beechey will lead the development of the joint LSM/LIU global financial risks offering in Singapore and the Asia Pacific market.

“Andrew’s leadership and involvement in the global financial risks business in Asia will add considerable value to LIU’s overall product offering in the region. His substantial experience and knowledge of the global credit and political risk market makes him an exciting addition to our team,” says Hissey.

“This appointment underscores our global product ambitions and further strengthens the relationships and experience that the LIU operations have on the ground in Asia Pacific,” he adds.

Chief speciality and reinsurance underwriting officer for LSM Matthew Moore says: “Andrew’s appointment reflects the continuing growth of our global financial risks business. This has been a very successful book for us, hence the desire to build a strong base in the Asia Pacific region, where we see considerable potential.”

Liberty Speciality Markets is the trading name for the combined operation of Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe, Liberty Syndicate Management and Liberty Mutual Reinsurance. It is part of the global insurer Liberty Mutual Insurance Group.