Specialist insurer Lawcover has announced the appointment of Peter Harmer to its board as non-executive chair, effective September 30, 2021.

Harmer will replace Duncan West, who was appointed a director of Lawcover in 2012 and has been chair of the board since 2016.

Read more: Lawcover promotes chief operations officer to CEO

Harmer is an industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience in the Australian and international insurance and financial sectors.

He served as the chief executive officer of Insurance Australia Group (IAG), CGU Insurance, Aon Limited UK, Aon Risk Services (APAC), and Aon Re Australia. He was also chair of Aon Re Australia and the London Market Reform Group.

Harmer is also currently a non-executive director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), AUB Group, and NIB Group.

“I am delighted to be joining the board of Lawcover, who I have always admired as a focused, highly professional business serving the risk management and insurance needs of its customers,” said Harmer. “I’m looking forward to working with fellow directors and management as we continue to build on the impressive foundations that have already been laid.”

Kerrie Lalich, CEO of Lawcover, said that Harmer brings “a wealth of knowledge and experience to Lawcover, both as a senior executive and a non-executive director.”

She added: “He is well placed to help us build on the substantial achievements of retiring chair Duncan West, as we continue our work on behalf of the legal profession.”