MECON Insurance Ltd (MECON NZ), a member of the UAA Group, has named Clifford Scott (pictured) as head of construction, effective May 29.
The company said the appointment is part of its effort to enhance broker relationships and deepen its expertise in construction-related risk management.
Scott’s career spans engineering, underwriting, and executive leadership roles across New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. He previously held senior posts at AIG and Allied World, and most recently led a consultancy before re-entering the insurance sector.
With Scott’s appointment, MECON NZ said it intends to:
“Cliff’s appointment reflects our unwavering commitment to strengthening the construction insurance sector with deep technical expertise and market-leading broker support. His industry experience and strong leadership will be instrumental in driving MECON NZ’s growth,” said Glenn Ross, UAA Group EGM construction and MECON founder.
Kishan Dasan, general manager at MECON Insurance, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Cliff to MECON NZ. His presence reinforces our ability to deliver innovative risk solutions while ensuring brokers have direct access to a seasoned professional who understand their unique challenges.”
In tandem with the leadership announcement, MECON NZ has also partnered with Artisan Underwriting to offer a new professional indemnity (PI) product tailored to the design and construct (D&C) segment.
The policy is underwritten with Lloyd’s capacity and is aimed at contractors managing both design and construction responsibilities.
Available via referral through MECON NZ, the cover targets builders and contractors across sectors including housing, commercial upgrades, retail, and civic infrastructure.
Coverage features include reinstatement of the sum insured, with aggregate limits up to $10 million, depending on the client’s selected level. The policy also addresses key risks such as:
Additional coverage options include run-off insurance for finished work, fidelity protection, and principal’s indemnity.
The new product launch coincides with broader shifts in construction project delivery, where integrated models and dual-role contracting are increasing. These trends are contributing to a greater need for tailored PI solutions, particularly among firms handling both design and implementation phases.
According to a Q1 2025 market report from WTW, construction insurers globally are navigating pricing pressures driven by material cost inflation and skilled labour shortages.
The report indicated that shortages are impacting construction timelines and quality, prompting insurers to reassess their underwriting approaches and capacity limits.
Natural disasters are also contributing to tighter insurance conditions. Events such as large-scale wildfires have triggered major insured losses, influencing reinsurer appetite and pricing across construction and property lines.
The shift toward digital systems and reliance on emerging technologies such as AI is raising concerns around cyber exposures in the construction sector. Insurers are responding by tightening terms on cyber-related exclusions in builder’s risk and construction all risks (CAR) policies.
