Canopius Group adds Michelle Rudd and Vanessa Hall to APAC team

Canopius Group, a global specialty and property & casualty re/insurer, has announced the appointments of Michelle Rudd as Chief Operating Officer, APAC, and Vanessa Hall as Casualty Underwriter.

Both based in Sydney, these hires reinforce Canopius’ commitment to strengthening its operational and underwriting capabilities across the Asia Pacific region.

In her new role, Rudd will oversee operational strategy and performance across APAC, ensuring Canopius continues to deliver value to its clients and stakeholders.

She will join the APAC ExCo team and report to both Soon Keen (SK) Lee, CEO – Asia Pacific & MENA, and Kate Roy, Group Chief Operating Officer, in London. She will also work closely with Andrew Ziolkowski in Sydney, who recently joined Canopius as Head of Australia and New Zealand.

Rudd brings over 20 years of industry experience, with expertise in claims and operations. She joins Canopius from Arch Underwriting at Lloyd’s (Australia), where she served as Director and Operations Manager. In that role, she established the company’s branch operations and led the design and development of its service delivery, infrastructure, and business processes and systems.

SK Lee said, “Michelle joins us at an exciting time as we continue to strengthen our leadership presence in the region. With her exceptional experience and strategic vision, she and Andrew will play key roles in driving Canopius’ growth momentum. Their combined leadership will ensure our Sydney office remains a cornerstone for innovation and collaboration as we pursue ambitious goals.”

In her new role, Hall will join the Canopius underwriting team and report to Brodie English, Head of Casualty, Australia and New Zealand.

She brings over 20 years of industry experience, most recently serving as Underwriting and Product Manager at ARAG Services Australia.

Prior to that, she held liability underwriting roles at Miramar Underwriting Agency, CGU Insurance, and Lumley Insurance.

English commented, “We are delighted to welcome Vanessa to the Canopius APAC team. Her appointment reflects our continued investment in our people and our commitment to delivering outstanding service to brokers and clients across the region.”