Tributes for "model professional" Hong Kong broker Geoffrey Lung

geoffrey-lung

Geoffrey Lung, CEO and managing director of Hong Kong-based MI Insurance Brokers, sadly passed away on 9 January after a heart attack.

Lung, pictured, was 57 years old and head of a specialist Wan Chai-based broker with over a hundred years of history in the market.

MI issued the following statement to its business partners: "We regret to announce that Geoffrey Lung, our managing director, sadly passed away on 9 January in hospital as a result of a heart attack."

Lung was a well liked broker in the Asia-Pacific region and seen as a model professional.

Sydney-based Peter Coates, director of risk consultant Axiom Asia-Pacific, commented: "I’ve known Geoffrey for seven years, having undertaken a number of reviews of his business on behalf of his Lloyd’s underwriters, and through that relationship, we became good friends."

He added: "From the first time of meeting Geoffrey, there was an immediate rapport, resulting in a standing invitation from him to attend the races at Happy Valley or Sha Tin whenever I came to Hong Kong, irrespective of whether I was visiting him as a client. It became a regular feature of my visits to Hong Kong, and he was always the most gracious and entertaining host."

Coates continued: "He was an insurance professional of the old school, with close ties to the Lloyd’s market over many years, and an excellent reputation in the bloodstock insurance world. My future visits to Hong Kong will be missing a special element – racing with Geoffrey!"

Another friend and insurance partner of Lung's is Nick Cousins, managing director of JLT in Hong Kong.

Cousins remarked: "Geoffrey has always been an ally of JLT’s and worked with us on several bloodstock placements for our racehorse owning clients. He was a model professional and an absolute gentleman and will be sorely missed professionally and personally."

Dylan Bryant, Lloyd's Hong Kong general representative and previously an employee at Zurich, gave the following tribute: "Geoffrey was a great person and wonderful to work with. His knowledge, energy and stories were as entertaining as they were enlightening. He will be missed."

Nigel Renton, senior director at Lonmar Global Risks, commented: "Geoffrey was my true friend, and a friend that cannot ever be replaced in my lifetime. I have known him over 25 years and have always loved my trips to Hong kong spending much time with Geoffrey. He was a true professional and very popular man, everyone from my market in London enjoyed him immensely."

He added: "I believe what he has done for the bloodstock industry in Hong Kong is incredible, he was the only person to offer continuous bloodstock insurance for over 25 years with me and the London market, all his competing insurers in Hong Kong seem to have come and gone. We called each other brother and that is what he was my Chinese brother. I will never forget him and always miss him."

Guy Morrison, chief underwriting officer equine at XL, gave this tribute: "I first met Geoffrey Lung in 2006 and have been his number one underwriter at Lloyd's of London for the last 10 years. He was a true professional and passionate about his business. He always tried to find the best solutions for his clients, but was also very fair and wanted to do things in the right way."

"I was a great admirer of his enthusiasm and networking skills and whenever we went racing in HK he seemed to know everyone!

Morrison added: "He was loyal to me his underwriter, but also showed a loyalty to his staff which shone through in the wonderful cameraderie that was in evidence whenever his whole team were together. Geoffrey's sense of fun and love of life was always in evidence and it was always a pleasure to be in his company and doing business with him.

"He will be sorely missed by so many people and I feel very lucky to have known him. He will certainly never be forgotten."

MI has reassured its clients that it is business as usual.

It said: "As our valuable business partners, we would like to assure you that, with the devotion and effort of all our staff and kind assistance of our business associates, our business operation is carried on as usual. Taking this opportunity, we would like to express our sincere thanks for your continuous support of our business."

Products served by MI include bloodstock, event cancellation, professional indemnity and yachts. 

There will be a memorial service on 2 February in Hung Hom.

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