TRANSITIONS: WHO’S ON THE MOVE

There has been plenty of movement in the upper echelons of the Australian insurance industry in recent weeks.

Allianz appoints Chief Technical Officer

Allianz Australia has appointed highly respected industry leader Donna Walker, as Chief Technical Officer and she will begin her new role on 5 December 2017.

Deputy Managing Director (MD) Richard Feledy, who becomes MD in January 2018, said Walker’s broad insurance background and proven leadership experience made her perfect for the role.

“Donna will be key to looking more broadly at our business and driving innovation across our technical capabilities. Her deep commercial knowledge will make a strong contribution to our product and service models, while helping us drive our renewed focus on customers. I’m delighted that she is joining our leadership team.”

Walker has more than 18 years’ experience across insurance spanning a variety of roles from claims, underwriting and pricing, reinsurance and actuarial services. She joins Allianz from Insurance Australia Group (IAG) where she most recently led the CGU intermediated business as Executive General Manager, Broker Business. She has been a member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) Board since March 2017 and is a passionate champion of diversity and inclusion, having served as chair of IAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Group.

QBE Insurance appoints interim CEO for Australian and New Zealand Operations

QBE Insurance today announced the appointment of Inder Singh, who is currently Chief Financial Officer of its Australian and New Zealand Operations (ANZO) as interim ANZO Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 November.

This follows the recent announcement that Pat Regan, currently ANZO CEO, will take over from John Neal as Group CEO of QBE from 1 January 2018. Regan said all three leaders were well versed in the ANZO strategy and were instrumental in its development, along with other leaders in the business. He said he would remain on hand to lend support as needed.

“I’m very confident in Inder and the wider leadership team in leading us through this transition period, continuing to focus on the great work we’ve been undertaking to set the business up for the future and successfully deliver on our plan for 2018 and beyond,” he said

Regan added that the appointment of a permanent CEO for ANZO would be one of his top priorities and progress had already been made in seeking out suitable candidates.

XL Catlin Appoints Max Broodryk as Product Leader, Cyber Risk, International Financial Lines for Asia Pacific

XL Catlin has appointed Max Broodryk as Product Leader of Cyber Risk, International Financial Lines for Asia Pacific, based in Sydney.  He will be responsible for underwriting management and development of the Cyber & Data Protection line of business within Asia Pacific and report to Timothy Powell, Regional Manager, International Financial Lines for XL Catlin’s APAC Insurance business.

Powell said, “We’re very pleased to have Max on board. XL Catlin has a significant expertise in cyber which we’re very much recognized for in the US and the London Market, and we have started to build out our capability in other regions, including Asia Pacific. Given Max’s extensive experience in cyber and professional liability solutions, he has the right expertise and skillset to strengthen our cyber offerings in the APAC region.”

Craig Langham, Chief Executive, Asia Pacific – Insurance added: “The cyber threats that many companies previously considered to be unthinkable are now making headlines. According to the 2017 Global Risk Report published by World Economic Forum, data fraud/theft and cyber attacks were ranked the fifth and sixth risk respectively in terms of likelihood.”

“Many countries across Asia Pacific are also stepping up their regulations and legislations to address the changing cyber landscape. Australia, for example, passed a new law in February this year that requires a data breach to be reported on a mandatory basis. The NBD scheme established under this law is due to start next February. It is clear that there is a growing requirement for Cyber coverage amongst clients, and we’re delighted that Max is here to help them tailor insurance solutions to meet this need.”

Broodryk brings with him more than 20 years’ experience in insurance. He joins XL Catlin from Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty in Australia where he held the position of Regional Underwriting Manager. Prior to Allianz, Broodryk had worked at QBE and AIG, in Asia and New Zealand.

ATC Insurance Solutions expands growing sports division

ATC Insurance Solutions has appointed Jarrod Morey to the position of Senior Underwriter – Sports, Leisure and Events. Morey will be based in the company’s Melbourne office and will manage and grow the existing portfolios in the southern states and Western Australia.

ATC’s Head of Sports, Tim Martin, commented that he was excited to welcome Morey to the team given his knowledge and experience in the sports market, and is very much a welcome addition to the quickly growing sports division at ATC.

Morey brings with him 20 years insurance industry experience with his most recent role being an underwriter with Sportscover Australia.