Sydney, 29 October 2025 – Canopius Group, a leading global specialty and P&C (re)insurer, is pleased to announce two key appointments to its growing Asia Pacific team. These appointments reinforce its commitment to strengthening its operational and underwriting capabilities in the region.
Michelle Rudd joins Canopius as Chief Operating Officer, APAC, while Vanessa Hall takes on the role of Casualty Underwriter. Both roles will be based in Sydney.
Michelle brings a wealth of experience in claims and operations to her new role. She will oversee operational strategy and performance across APAC, ensuring Canopius continues to deliver value to its clients and stakeholders.
Michelle joins Canopius from Arch Underwriting at Lloyd’s (Australia) where she was Director and Operations Manager. In this role, she established the company’s branch operations and successfully led the design and cost-effective development of the company’s service delivery, infrastructure, and business processes and systems.
Michelle will join the APAC ExCo team and report to both Soon Keen (SK) Lee, Chief Executive Officer – Asia Pacific & MENA, and Kate Roy, Group Chief Operating Officer, in London. She will work with Andrew Ziolkowski in Sydney, who recently joined Canopius as Head of Australia and New Zealand.
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.”
Vanessa joins the Canopius underwriting team bringing more than 20 years’ industry experience to the role, most recently serving as Underwriting and Product Manager at ARAG Services Australia. She will report to Brodie English, Head of Casualty Australia and New Zealand.
Brodie 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.”
