Sedgwick names Diego Ascani CEO of Australian operations

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SYDNEY– Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, announced the appointment of Diego Ascani to the role of chief executive officer of Australian operations.

Ascani joined Cunningham Lindsey (acquired by Sedgwick earlier this year) as chief operating officer and head of inTrust for Australia in 2017. In this role, he was responsible for driving the implementation of enterprise-wide strategy and improving operational efficiencies in a number of business and service lines. He has over 27 years’ experience in the insurance industry and is a qualified solicitor and company director.

Ascani holds Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Law and MBA degrees from Bond University. He is also an associate of the Insurance Institute of South Africa and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As a key member of Sedgwick’s Asia-Pacific senior executive team—which also includes Darryl Cowan, CEO for New Zealand, and Wayne Cheng, general manager, Asia—Ascani will report to Ian Muress, CEO of international operations.

Ascani previously reported to Damon Bennett, former Sedgwick CEO of the Asia-Pacific region; Bennett recently made the decision to leave the company for an extended break before pursuing other opportunities.

“The Asia-Pacific leadership team is working together to bring the best of Sedgwick to our clients,” Muress said. “Damon was dedicated to building our business for 15 years, and we are grateful to be well positioned for long-term success in the region thanks to his efforts. In recent months, Diego has played a central role in the Australian management team, bringing his operational skills and third-party administration experience to overseeing the integration of Cunningham Lindsey and Sedgwick. He and the rest of the Asia-Pacific team are committed to our growth ambitions in Australia and the wider region.

“Our clients remain at the forefront of our business and central to our operations,” Muress continued. “Under Diego’s leadership, we will continue to develop and enhance our services to ensure they reflect their changing business needs and the evolution of the global risk landscape.”