Sedgwick has appointed Simon Kay as chief executive officer and Kimberley Daley as chief operating officer for its Australian operations, completing a transition in the firm’s local executive leadership. The changes take effect May 6, 2026, and follow a period in which New Zealand-based executive Phil van Zyl has served as interim CEO for the Australian business.
Kay joined Sedgwick’s Australian operation as chief operating officer in November 2025. He previously served as acting COO in Australia in 2023 and, before returning to the local market, held the role of director of executive services, UK & International, providing leadership support across the Asian market. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the loss adjusting sector across multiple countries, including oversight of large property, major and complex loss teams, management of significant corporate instructions, and responsibility for key client relationships.
In his new role as CEO for Australia, Kay will be accountable for the overall direction and performance of Sedgwick’s local business. This includes working with insurers, brokers, corporates, and legal stakeholders across property, casualty, and specialty claims and coordinating the firm’s response to major and complex events in the Australian market. “Simon is a dynamic and action-oriented leader with a deep understanding of our business and a passion for driving growth and operational excellence,” said Paul White, Sedgwick CEO, International.
Read next: Sedgwick names Suzanne Dann global president
Daley steps into the COO position after 14 years with Sedgwick in Australia. She most recently served as executive general manager of professional services, a role she has held since 2021, and before that was head of forensic accounting services. As COO, she will oversee day-to-day operations, resource allocation, and service delivery across Sedgwick’s Australian platform. Her remit includes loss adjusting and associated professional services, as well as coordination between technical disciplines such as forensic accounting and major and complex loss. “Kimberley brings a rare combination of operational insight and financial acumen to the business. Her long-standing experience with Sedgwick and deep understanding of complex claims and client needs will be instrumental as we continue to grow and evolve the business,” White said.
White also acknowledged van Zyl’s role during the leadership transition. “We are sincerely grateful for his commitment, expertise, and clarity. Following the successful completion of this interim assignment, Phil will resume his focus on leading our New Zealand business, where he and the team will continue to build on the strong foundation they have already established. I thank him for his contribution to help ensure continuity for our Australian team and clients and his support in maintaining strong momentum across the business,” he said.
The CEO and COO appointments come after another leadership change in Sedgwick’s Australian operations earlier in 2026. On March 18, the firm named Amanda Hillier as head of forensic accounting services in Australia. Hillier has more than 20 years’ forensic accounting experience in Australia and the UK. Her work has included class action administration and settlement schemes, as well as quantifying economic losses for insurance and litigation matters such as business interruption, commercial disputes, cyber incidents, personal injury, and fatal accident claims.
In her current role, she is responsible for strategy and delivery across Sedgwick’s Australian forensic accounting portfolio and works with insurers, corporates, and law firms on complex loss, litigation, and class action matters. According to Sedgwick, Hillier has overseen operational quality across the forensic practice, contributed to catastrophe response efforts, and supported the introduction of new claims systems and automated assessment tools for handling high-volume and complex claims, including class actions.
“Forensic accounting continues to evolve as claims become more complex and data driven. I’m proud to work with a highly skilled team that brings deep technical expertise together with automation and innovation to help clients navigate challenging loss, litigation, and class action matters,” Hillier said. Sedgwick’s Australian forensic accounting team comprises more than 30 accountants across four offices, serving clients in sectors including construction, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, power and energy, and retail.
