(EnergyAsia, November 17 2011, Thursday) — Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, a leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a member of Marsh & McLennan Companies, has announced the expansion of its risk management capabilities in the Asia Pacific region with a number of senior-level appointments.

Christian Schirmer has been appointed head of GC Analytics® – Asia Pacific and is based in Sydney, Australia. Mr. Schirmer has 18 years of re/insurance industry experience in both the UK and Australia, including roles at McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company and Beazley Insurance, where he was head of Ceded Reinsurance.

The company said it has strengthened its facultative, retrocessional and specialty practices in the region, with the appointment of three senior brokers at its Singapore office from next January.

Lucinda Coleman will join GC Fac®, Guy Carpenter’s global facultative unit from JLT Re Asia where she was a broker and producer.

Brendan Plessis, formerly of Willis Re in Bermuda, will join as head of Multinational and Retrocessional practice.

Richard Hakes, formerly a commercial director at Cooper Gay in London, will head the firm’s marine and energy practice in the Asia Pacific region.

James Nash, Guy Carpenter & Company LLC’s CEO of Asia Pacific region, said:

“The Asia Pacific region is an exciting and rapidly growing reinsurance marketplace, with a complexity of challenges across mature and emerging markets. Guy Carpenter continually seeks to broaden and deepen its technical expertise and capabilities in this region to support the evolving needs of its clients.

“Each of these new appointees has shown the ability to delve into complex issues and develop practical solutions for protecting and advancing client interests. We look forward to combining their individual strengths and using their collective expertise to help clients achieve their strategic and financial goals in the region.”