Fusion Specialty, a division of Pop Group Holdings, has named Steven Harwood as the new Managing Partner overseeing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for its Asia Pacific operations. Harwood will lead Fusion's M&A team across the region, from New Zealand to India, with the objective of enhancing the company's presence and activities in the area.
With more than twenty-five years of expertise in managing transactional liability risks, Harwood brings a wealth of experience to Fusion. His diverse background, spanning from his service as a former Royal Navy officer to his roles as a reinsurance broker in London and practicing as an English-qualified lawyer, endows him with a versatile skill set well-suited for the specialty insurance sector.
Harwood is acknowledged for his extensive knowledge of the APAC insurance landscape, boasting around 11 years of specialized experience, notably in warranty and indemnity (W&I) and tax indemnity matters. He has tackled intricate tax challenges spanning various jurisdictions such as India, Singapore, the UAE, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, and Korea. Harwood has emerged as a prominent figure in contingent liability risks, including litigation buy-out risks, establishing himself as a preferred underwriter among brokers in Asia seeking guidance in these domains.
Before assuming his current position, Harwood played a pivotal role in establishing and managing transactional liability teams across the APAC region, with a specific emphasis on various liability products including W&I, tax, and contingent liabilities. Noteworthy achievements include his involvement in underwriting the first-ever tax indemnity policy in Japan and spearheading a major litigation buy-out initiative addressing Japanese litigation risk. His professional journey also encompasses key roles at Ironshore Group's Pembroke Syndicate at Lloyd's Japan and Herbert Smith Freehills' Tokyo office within their M&A practice.
Katherine Simmonds, CEO of Fusion International, has expressed confidence in Harwood's leadership capabilities for the APAC M&A team, "We are thrilled to welcome Steven to the company. His extensive background, coupled with a proven track record in navigating complex transactional liability risks, makes him the ideal leader for our M&A team in the Asia Pacific region. Steven's arrival aligns with our commitment to excellence and innovation, and we are confident that his expertise will significantly contribute to our growth in the dynamic M&A insurance sector across the region", she said.
"I am delighted to join Fusion at a time of exciting opportunities in the M&A insurance landscape. Fusion's commitment to excellence and innovation resonates with my own professional values, and I am eager to lead the M&A team in APAC", Harwood said. "The dynamic markets in the region present unique challenges, and I am keen to leverage my experience to drive Fusion's success, contribute to the company's strategic objectives, and further solidify our position as a market leader in the transactional liability insurance sector", he added further.