Beazley has expanded its mergers & acquisitions (M&A) insurance capabilities in Asia-Pacific with the hire of Jade Cummings.

Based in Singapore, Cummings will join Beazley’s global M&A team, which underwrites companies engaged in M&A activity, including acquisitive corporations, private equity funds, corporate spinoffs, asset sales or purchases, and refinancing transactions, a statement from the specialist insurer said.

Prior to joining Beazley, Cummings was with McAfee LLC, where she was legal counsel. She joined the firm as a secondee before becoming the lead legal counsel responsible for the Southeast Asia region, the statement said. Prior to that she was a private practice lawyer in Auckland and trained and qualified at the law firm Russell McVeagh. She then worked at the law firm Anthony Harper before relocating to Singapore.

The move follows Beazley’s announcement last month, which said it would increase its underwriting presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Jade who will significantly enhance our local offering in Asia Pac and help us grow in Singapore,” said Tim Allen, global head of Beazley’s M&A team and underwriter. “She brings great experience from a leading tech company and having worked as a lawyer and M&A practitioner across the Southeast Asian and Australasian markets.

“Appetite for M&A insurance across Asia-Pacific remains strong and we look forward to building our book further with Jade and future hires. With Jade joining the team we can offer brokers and clients local underwriting capability supported by the expertise of our global M&A underwriting and claims specialists and continue the significant growth we have seen in recent years.”