West P&I Club, a global insurance provider for the maritime and offshore industries, has opened a new office in Dubai’s International Financial Centre (DIFC), located in Central Park Towers.
This marks West’s seventh office worldwide, joining its locations in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, New York, Piraeus, and Singapore.
The Dubai office is West’s first in the Middle East, making it the only International Group (IG) Club to establish a presence in the region. This move highlights the growing importance of the Middle East in the maritime sector and West’s commitment to supporting this key hub.
Currently, Members from the Middle East, Africa, and India contribute 14.5% of West’s total entered tonnage, a figure the Club expects to grow significantly in the coming years. The new office has already sparked increased interest from existing Members and potential new clients.
Captain Gagan Dhillon has been appointed CEO (Dubai) and will lead the regional office. He brings 27 years of experience in the shipping industry, including 14 years at The North of England P&I Association, where he most recently served as Director (Claims). Before that, he was in command of oil tankers as a Master Mariner.
Joining Dhillon is Sotiris Tzintanos, who has been appointed Claims Manager. Tzintanos previously worked at Preston Turnbull LLP as an Associate and held roles at the UK Defence Club and Clyde & Co.
Dhillon and Tzintanos will work alongside Enam Hussain, recently promoted to Head of Middle East Operations and Offshore. Hussain’s responsibilities include coordinating operations across the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Turkey, and Africa (MITA) team to align with the Club’s overall strategy. Additionally, he has established and now manages the Club’s new Offshore Team, which has a significant global presence within the sector.
Hussain previously served as West’s Head of Claims for seven years. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at The Standard P&I Club, most recently serving as Head of Division – Europe.
The Dubai office will focus on claims handling and Member support for the UAE, Gulf region, and Indian subcontinent, working alongside West’s claims teams in London and Piraeus. Underwriting and business development will be managed and coordinated by joint Regional Heads, Nigel Burridge and Gary Henderson, from London who will work closely with Dhillon and Tzintanos in their new roles.
Tom Bowsher, Group Chief Executive Officer, West P&I, said, “Regionalisation is a key part of our strategy, and this office has further enhanced the quality and personal touch of our services to existing Members, as well as supporting our new business development in the region across all product lines. I am delighted that Gagan and Sotiris have chosen to join the West to lead this new office and they will have my and the Management Team’s full support at this exciting time for the Club.”
Dhillon stated, “I am delighted to have joined West to run the new office in the UAE. Dubai is an increasingly important and vibrant hub of shipping in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. This base and the local team, position us at the heart of a growing maritime market for owners, charterers and traders.”
