Market: Australia
Company: DUAL Australia
Job title: CEO, Asia-Pacific
After founding DUAL Australia in 2004, Damien Coates has proved to be an exemplary leader, guiding the business through impressive organic growth to become Australia’s largest independent underwriting agency and Lloyd’s of London’s largest intermediated coverholder in Australia. Additionally, in 2011, Coates oversaw the establishment of the Auckland office, and today, DUAL New Zealand is the country’s largest underwriting agency, as well as one of its top five liability providers. In 2011, Coates also agreed to take on the role of DUAL’s global CEO. He spent two years heading up the global business before returning to the region full-time to focus on Asia-Pacific. Under his leadership, DUAL continues to grow across the region. With more than 20 years in the industry, and experience in international and global roles, Coates remains a key figure in the Australian insurance space. He was named on the Insurance Business Australia Hot List 2019 – a repeat appearance which comes as no surprise. Since the launch of the Insurance Business Brokers on Underwriting Agencies survey in 2005, DUAL has repeatedly cleaned up. Brokers consistently point to the underwriter as a standout performer, particularly in the areas of D&O liability, management liability and professional indemnity.
