Charles Taylor beefs up Asia-Pacific expertise

International loss adjusting firm Charles Taylor has announced the expansion of its marine technical services (MTS) team with strategic new hires across Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. These key appointments highlight Charles Taylor’s commitment to providing clients across Asia Pacific with a full suite of services, reducing the need for multiple providers, said the firm. “The new additions to Charles Taylor’s MTS team strengthen Charles Taylor’s capacity to manage complex cross-border marine projects. From handling damage assessments for Chinese-owned vessels in Australian waters to overseeing intricate repairs in Singapore, the MTS team provides an integrated, end-to-end solution that streamlines marine claims and technical services across borders. This approach not only saves clients valuable time but also reduces administrative complexities, delivering a seamless experience that covers the full cycle of marine claims and technical support,” added Charles Taylor. The four new hires are: Allwyn D’Souza – senior surveyor, Sydney, Australia: With over 46 years’ experience in the marine and insurance industry – 32 years of those as a marine claims adjuster – D’Souza is a seasoned expert in high-value and complex claims. His credentials include expertise in cargo claims, hull damage, and liability cases; Ong Eng Hong – marine surveyor, Singapore: A seasoned surveyor with over 20 years of experience in the marine sector, Eng Hong’s background includes overseeing shipbuilding and conversion projects, H&M damage investigations and conducting extensive marine warranty surveys across Southeast Asia for oil majors like Chevron Thailand and Petrovietnam. Steve Hawthorne – senior marine surveyor, Hong Kong: Bringing 34 years’ experience in the marine industry, with 16 years as a marine surveyor, Hawthorne offers deep expertise in marine casualty response, heavy lift, project cargoes, and marine warranty services. His expertise includes marine casualty work for H&M and P&I insurers, overseeing drydocking repairs, mega yacht inspections and cargo damage. Duan Mingxin – surveyor, Shanghai, China: With eight years’ experience as a salvage engineer and two years as a project manager of a cruise design project, Mingxin is experienced in design and associated calculations. His notable projects include leading an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) design project, overseeing the design of a 150,000-tonne cruise ship, and serving as a salvage engineer on complex salvage operations such as the Sewol sunken Ro-Ro ferry in South Korea. Additionally, Harshvardhan Kumar has been appointed director – marine technical services, Australia, reporting directly to Graeme Temple, regional director – marine technical services. His leadership in Australia bolsters Charles Taylor’s commitment to delivering a seamless, end-to-end service for marine clients across Asia Pacific, said the firm. Temple explained the thinking behind the slew of new hires: “Our new team members greatly enhance our regional capabilities, allowing us to provide a full suite of solutions to clients dealing with multifaceted marine challenges. With this expanded team, we ensure continuity and consistency and aim to be a trusted partner that our clients can depend on for experience and expertise on all aspects of marine technical services, from loss prevention and asset management to major marine property and complex cargo losses.” The firm also announced this week a 20% increase in its workforce with the hire of key talent and deployment of market-leading claims technology across its four locations in Malaysia over the past year, strengthening its offering in property, liability, construction and engineering, and motor. “The expansion of the team broadens the skill and experience base and strengthens the Charles Taylor Malaysia branch network with offices in Penang, Perak, Pahang, Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, enabling us to better support and service our clients,” said the group. The loss adjuster said that this growth highlights the company’s dedication to expanding its operations and strengthening its presence in Malaysia with over 60 technical specialists across the country, while also developing junior and trainee adjusters to ensure a “strong pipeline” of local talent. Charles Taylor said that it views Malaysia as a vital hub for its operations in Asia, complementing its presence in key markets such as Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and China. In 2025, there are plans for additional branch networks. Bala Subramaniam, managing director, Charles Taylor Malaysia, said: “Malaysia’s loss adjusting industry has seen rapid expansion in recent years, driven by the rising frequency of catastrophic events, stricter regulatory requirements, and the complex landscape of risk management in the post-pandemic era. “With the opportunities across Malaysia, we are eager to broaden our footprint and strengthen partnerships with local insurers, brokers and other intermediaries. Our goal is to ensure that Charles Taylor remains at the forefront of the Malaysian market with top-tier expertise.” Stephen Thorpe, managing director, Charles Taylor Asia, added: “As Charles Taylor continues its growth journey across the region, we are committed to providing unparalleled expertise and service excellence to our clients. As we look forward to 2025, we are well-positioned to play a leading role in the rapidly evolving loss adjusting industry in Malaysia and the rest of Asia.”

Charles Taylor beefs up Asia-Pacific expertise

New hires will help deliver more seamless experience for customers, says loss adjuster

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