Independent Lloyd’s of London broker Tysers has announced the launch of a Bermudian-based affiliate.

Tysers (Bermuda) Ltd will be headed by Richard Tomkins, who has relocated from London to become managing director of Tysers Bermuda.

He was managing director of reinsurance at Tysers, and has more than 30 years of insurance brokerage experience and has covered both mainstream and specialty areas, predominantly in the treaty and binding authority lines of coverage, the company said.

In 2006 he joined Integro Insurance Brokers Ltd, which now trades as Tysers, along with Nick Harrap to grow the firm’s reinsurance business. Mr Harrap is the new managing director of reinsurance for Tysers, following Mr Tomkins’s move.

“I’m excited to build the Tysers Bermuda office. Tysers Bermuda will provide access to additional insurance markets for our independent broker relationships globally,” Mr Tomkins said.

“We see particularly attractive opportunities that will complement our specialty focus in both insurance and reinsurance, along with providing additional capacity for our clients globally, where other markets are not responding to the demand.”

He added: “Overall, this will provide our clients with the best possible solutions. We are also actively seeking to build our broking capabilities and expertise in Bermuda to match our needs as we grow the office.”

Jason Collins, co-head of Tysers, said: “Tysers sees the expansion of the office in Bermuda, to serve its worldwide clients, as an important part of our overall strategic plan. Our commitment to Bermuda is demonstrated by moving Richard, an important leader of Tysers, to lead this new venture. He has supported the growth of our London business over the last 13 years and is the ideal person to execute this part of our strategy.”

London-based Tysers employs more than 500 people and handles upwards of $2 billion in annual premiums working with leading re/insurance markets worldwide to deliver risk solutions to a global client base, the company said.