Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has appointed Marcus Portbury as regional president, Asia Middle East, in a change to the company’s senior leadership structure in the region. The appointment, announced March 1, is subject to regulatory approval. Subject to the same approvals, Portbury will also take on the role of chief executive of BHSI’s Hong Kong branch. In both positions, he will succeed Marc Breuil, who is retiring from the company and from the insurance industry.

“Marcus has played a pivotal role in growing our business across Asia and the Middle East since our launch in the region, bringing BHSI’s underwriting discipline, financial strength, and commitment to excellent service to customers regionwide. I look forward to continuing our work together, building on our strong relationships and customer-first philosophy across the region,” Peter Eastwood, president and CEO of BHSI, said. He also commented on Breuil’s tenure. “I also want to express my immense gratitude to Marc Breuil. Under his leadership, BHSI has established a strong, stable portfolio and built a stellar team in Asia and the Middle East. Marc has had an accomplished career in the global insurance industry. I am proud to call him a colleague and friend and wish him all the best in his retirement,” he said.

Experience and responsibilities of the new regional leader

Portbury joined BHSI in 2014 and most recently served as regional head of third-party lines, Asia, overseeing liability and related classes across several Asian markets. He has more than three decades of experience in the insurance industry, including over 20 years in senior leadership roles in the region. In his expanded remit, Portbury will remain based in Hong Kong and will oversee BHSI’s business and strategy across Asia and the Middle East. In these markets, BHSI underwrites a range of commercial property and casualty coverages, as well as multinational programs and accident and health lines. The transition takes place as international carriers review and adjust regional structures to address underwriting performance, distribution, and regulatory requirements across markets from the Gulf to North Asia and Southeast Asia.

Global carriers revise Asia-Pacific leadership structures

BHSI’s announcement is one of several senior leadership changes by multinational insurers in Asia in 2025 and 2026, as groups update governance models and regional reporting lines. American International Group (AIG) has appointed Scott Leney as regional president, AIG Asia-Pacific, effective Feb. 1, 2026, subject to regulatory approval. In this newly created role, Leney will oversee AIG’s operations in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. He joins from Everest Insurance, where he led the Asia Pacific business, and has more than 30 years of experience in the region.

Allianz Commercial has also revised its regional structure. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the company named Christian Sandric as president, commercial, Asia-Pacific, as part of a new regional board framework. Based in Singapore, Sandric moved from his previous role as regional managing director for Asia and is responsible for representing Allianz’s commercial insurance operations to corporate customers and distribution partners under the updated governance model.

Brokers and composite insurers adjust regional and local roles

On the broking side, Gallagher Specialty has reconfigured its Asia leadership with the appointment of Adam Sullivan as CEO of its specialty operations in Asia, a position widely described in the market as CEO of Asia for Gallagher Specialty. Announced Jan. 28, the role gives Sullivan responsibility for the broker’s specialty activities in the region, covering sectors including energy, marine, heavy industry, mining, property, and financial lines. The appointment builds on his long-standing work in aviation and aerospace risk across Asia-Pacific.

In Singapore, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group has consolidated its two local entities under a single licence and created a unified country leadership role. The company has appointed Jimmy Tong as CEO for its Singapore operations, effective April 27, subject to regulatory approval. Tong will oversee Liberty’s Singapore business across retail, SME, and corporate segments and will report to Matthew Jackson, president, Liberty International Insurance – Asia-Pacific. These leadership changes across insurers and brokers active in Asia and the Middle East highlight ongoing adjustments to management structures as global groups organize regional oversight, product strategies, and regulatory engagement across multiple jurisdictions.