Ironshore has opened an office in New Zealand, the Bermuda-based insurer announced last night.

The office, in the city of Auckland, will operate as a branch of Ironshore Australia, led by Katherine Simmonds, managing director of the Sydney-based operation.

Robert Solloway has been named Asia Pacific regional manager, agriculture, serving in the New Zealand office.

Mr Solloway joins Ironshore from reinsurance underwriter Novae as part of the global agriculture team that recently merged with Ironshore’s existing specialty agribusiness group under the direction of Catherine Besselman, global divisional director.

In October 2015, Ironshore acquired the reinsurance renewal rights to Novae Group’s global agriculture reinsurance portfolio.

“Ironshore’s expansion into New Zealand complements our global distribution platform and further builds upon our foundation for growth opportunities in selected specialty sectors within the Asia Pacific region,” said Mark Wheeler, chief executive officer of Ironshore International.

Ironshore Australia underwrites a range of specialty business lines.

Ironshore is wholly owned by Chinese investment firm Fosun Group.