Japan’s largest non-life insurance group, MSAD, is to open its first Irish office, which will be the intermediary hub for Britain and Ireland regional underwriting business.

MSI Management UK and Ireland will employ 30 people, 10 of whom will be in Dublin. The company will also open regional branches in Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as maintaining its commercial office in London.

Alan Sheils, who joined from Chubb Insurance to take up the managing director position at the new operation, said MSI would target mid-market commercial and corporate insurance in the British and Irish regional markets. “That’s anything from hotels and shopping centres to manufacturing risks.”

The firm would position itself as a provider of a “premium product aimed at really good quality clients”. The day-to-day underwriting for the insurer will take place locally, but will be done under the control of MSI’s Lloyd’s syndicate 3210 in London.

Dublin was chosen as the hub due to the “quality of the staff”, Mr Sheils said, adding that MSI also saw opportunities in Ireland.