XL hire highlights high hopes for product recall business

Sydney-based placement director – crisis management – at Aon Risk Solutions Ian Davidson (pictured) is heading to XL to become its crisis management underwriter.

Davidson will be responsible for XL Group’s product recall business in Asia-Pacific. He will also be charged with developing the company’s crisis-management offering for the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Regional manager of XL Asia-Pacific Craig Langham said the Australian food, beverage and grocery manufacturing industry was Australia’s largest manufacturing sector, contributing almost 4% to the nation’s GDP.

Langham said that XL’s product-recall insurance coverage and crisis response was geared to meet the increasing operational, regulatory and reputational risks faced by the food, beverage and grocery manufacturing industry.

He said that Davidson’s hire was part of XL’s strategy to increase its product-recall insurance capabilities to support further predicted growth in the sector.

“Australia’s geographical location positions it well for exporting to South-East Asia and China,” Langham said. “Plus, with the majority of executives working in the food and beverage industry expecting increases in revenues in the next 12 months, we anticipate increased demand for this insurance coverage.”