Zurich Australia and law firm Clyde & Co have announced senior leadership appointments that expand their claims and insurance capabilities in Australia. Though the two moves are unrelated, both point to the same underlying pressure across the market: insurers and their legal advisers are investing in more senior, more experienced people specifically in claims and disputes, the two functions carrying the heaviest workload as claims volumes and complexity continue to rise. The appointments include a new senior claims executive at Zurich Australia and partner and senior associate promotions at Clyde & Co across its insurance and dispute resolution practices.
Zurich Australia has appointed Fifita Ngaue as senior head of retail life claims, Australia, with the appointment taking effect on August 10, 2026. Ngaue joins Zurich from MetLife, where she serves as head of claims. According to Zurich, her responsibilities have included overseeing claims performance, claims experience, and innovation. She has also previously held roles at Macquarie, CommInsure, and Zurich. In her new position, Ngaue will oversee Zurich Australia's retail life claims team and lead work related to claims operations, including initiatives focused on claims experience and digital capability.
Matt Paterson, chief claims officer at Zurich Australia, said leadership investment remained a priority as the insurer expanded its claims operations. "As Zurich continues to grow, it is critical we invest in strong leadership capability across our claims function. Fifita brings a wealth of claims expertise to this role and has a track record for delivering great customer outcomes. We look forward to the energy and experience she will bring to the team," Paterson said.
Ngaue said she would focus on claims delivery and technology initiatives after returning to the insurer. "I'm excited to be returning to Zurich at such a significant time in the business. Claims is at the heart of what we do for customers, and I look forward to working with the team to drive meaningful improvements to the claims experience and accelerate our digital capabilities," she said.
Separately, global law firm Clyde & Co announced the promotion of six lawyers across its Asia-Pacific offices and joint venture partner Clasis LLC in Singapore, with the changes effective July 1, 2026.
The appointments include the promotion of Melbourne-based Kelly MacDonald to partner in the firm's professional and commercial disputes practice. MacDonald advises clients on complex disputes, including professional indemnity matters, insurance coverage disputes, commercial litigation, superannuation disputes, and investigations conducted by coronial and state government authorities.
The firm also promoted three Sydney-based lawyers to senior associate roles, including two within its insurance practice. Lilla Kontakos, based in Sydney, was promoted to senior associate in the insurance practice. Her work includes mergers and acquisitions, commercial agreements, corporate governance, and corporate insurance matters. Leona Cassidy, also based in Sydney, was promoted to senior associate in the insurance team. Her practice focuses on insurers and corporate policyholders across general liability, public liability, product liability, complex claims, coverage disputes, insurance recoveries, and cross-border disputes.
Henry Bloore, from the firm's professional and commercial disputes practice in Sydney, was also promoted to senior associate. His work focuses on construction, engineering, financial services litigation, professional indemnity, and insurance coverage disputes. Outside Australia, Clyde & Co promoted Pi Wei Ng to senior associate in dispute resolution at Clasis LLC in Singapore and Michelle Tay to senior associate in the firm's marine, trading, and commodities practice in Singapore.
Rebecca Kelly, Australia managing partner at Clyde & Co, said the promotions reflected continued investment across several practice areas, including insurance. "These promotions reflect the exceptional talent within our firm and our continued investment in areas where our clients face regulatory risk and change. Our teams across insurance, disputes, corporate, and maritime and trade are well-positioned to support clients navigating complex challenges," Kelly said.
MacDonald said her appointment comes as clients continue to manage evolving regulatory and risk issues. "I am delighted to be joining the firm's partnership and look forward to helping our clients navigate the rapidly evolving risk and regulatory landscape in Australia and beyond," MacDonald said.
Clyde & Co said the promotions follow a series of lateral partner appointments made across the Asia Pacific region earlier in 2026, including insurance partner Jessica Thurtell in Sydney. According to the firm, its global insurance practice comprises 2,400 lawyers across more than 70 offices worldwide, advising clients across multiple lines of insurance business. The firm said the two Australian insurance promotions add to its transactional, corporate, and regulatory capabilities serving insurance clients across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
