Lockton has opened a Wellington office and appointed Felix Ukaegbu as general manager and James Earwaker as client director, financial lines - completing coverage of New Zealand’s four main commercial centres after entering the market less than five years ago.
Earwaker has more than 20 years in the industry and is recognised for expertise in financial, executive and professional risks. Wellington’s concentration of financial services firms, law practices, accountancies, government agencies and publicly listed entities makes it a natural market for that specialism. Ukaegbu brings nearly two decades of experience across the New Zealand and global insurance markets.
They join Graham Elliot, who is based in Wellington and joined Lockton earlier this year as a client director in its People Solutions business.
Lockton New Zealand chief executive Craig Buckle said the opening reflects the “continued growth of our presence across New Zealand.” He said the firm plans to bring more experienced staff into the business to deepen its expertise and capabilities for clients nationwide.
Ukaegbu said his focus is on combining deep local knowledge with Lockton’s global expertise and market access to give clients greater choice and sharper insights on complex risks.
Lockton entered New Zealand in September 2021, competing against an established market led by AUB Group NZ, Aon New Zealand and Steadfast NZ Holdings. IBISWorld puts the sector at $3.4 billion in 2026. When the broker entered, then chief executive Peter Lowe told Insurance Business that the biggest challenge was that the Lockton name was unknown in the market and that finding the right people was key.
A Christchurch office followed seven months after the Auckland launch - the first on the South Island. Earlier in 2026, Lockton added Queenstown to its Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch network. Wellington is now the fifth office, arriving four and a half years after launch and giving the firm a presence in the country’s two largest cities and three of its main regional centres.
Buckle has previously told Insurance Business that New Zealand’s small market mainly affects small and medium-sized businesses, and that a stagnant broking market may have worked in Lockton’s favour as it built its client base.
For brokers watching the competitive landscape, the Wellington opening signals that Lockton’s New Zealand build-out is not slowing. The financial lines focus of the Earwaker hire also suggests the firm is moving beyond generalist competition toward specialist lines where its global capacity and London market access may give it an edge in a capital city market.
