Insurance broker and consultancy firm Lockton has launched a risk consulting business in Australia, naming Ben Crowther as head of the new offering.

The CEO of Lockton in the Pacific region, Paul Marsden, said that the launch of the new practice comes in response to client demands, and enhances Lockton’s end-to-end services in the risk scene.

“We’ve been listening to our clients and evidently, the risks our clients are facing are only becoming more complex. By establishing in-house risk consulting capabilities, Lockton will add value to our clients’ businesses and address gaps or capacity challenges amongst their own internal risk management expertise,” he said.

“We are one of a few brokers offering risk management consulting, and as we link the offering with the insurance cycle, we will be able to offer an integrated risk and broking propositions that is typically only reserved for top companies, presenting an opportunity for Lockton to make an impact in the mid-market space.”

While the likes of Aon, Mercer, and Willis Towers Watson focus on the corporate and multinational landscape, Lockton mainly serves clients in the mid-market space. Headquartered in the US, the firm bills itself as the market leader in this space, with offices in 140 countries, including seven in Australia.

Leading the new risk consulting business is Ben Crowther, who brings over a decade of experience to the position, having led client projects in areas like risk assessment and insurance program stress-testing. His expertise extends to advanced risk quantification, business continuity planning, asset valuation, risk engineering, and the preparation of complex business interruption claims.

Commenting on his appointment as Head of Risk Consulting, Crowther said: “Our new practice marks a significant advancement in the risk management services at Lockton. By delivering critical services like insurable risk profiling, valuations, and business interruption reviews, Lockton is solidifying its position as a more relevant, trusted advisor and collaborator in our clients’ wider risk management strategies.”