Engineering exec joins Gallagher

Engineering and resources sector executive Simon High has taken a new role as Western Australia area director at international insurance broker Gallagher.

Mr High’s most recent executive role was chief executive of the engineering services arm of Singapore-listed contractor AusGroup – a position he held for 18 months.

Prior to that he spent nearly five years as chief executive of ASX-listed Southern Cross Electrical Engineering.

Mr High also has experience with companies including John Brown, Kvaerner and Clough, in the UK, US, South African and Australian markets.

He replaces John Ripepi, who has moved into a new role as Gallagher’s national emerging opportunities development leader.

Headquartered in Perth, Gallagher’s WA team provides risk management advice and insurance solutions to thousands of companies across the state, from micro SMEs to multinational corporations.

Gallagher is WA’s second largest insurance broking firm with 103 brokers, according to the industry ranking on the BNiQ Search Engine.

The global firm built its local presence by purchasing local business Strathearn Insurance Brokers in 2015, 18 months after buying OAMPS Insurance Brokers.

“I’m very impressed by the ambition Gallagher has shown, both locally and globally, and enthusiastic to be involved in a new challenge after spending my whole career in the resources sector,” Mr High said in a statement.

“My ambitions are for Gallagher Perth to be recognised as a high-performing branch, a great place to work and a business that really delivers for its clients.

“We already have considerable local expertise here in WA, but Gallagher’s international reach means that we’re able to access global specialists and solutions to place our clients in the best possible position to survive any insurable event. That’s a very exciting prospect.”