Zurich CEO Shane Doyle today announced his resignation from the company.

While no official reason has been given at this point for the move, a reliable source told insuranceNEWS.com.au Mr Doyle’s decision to resign was “a personal decision based on a change in career direction”.

Mr Doyle told Zurich staff around Australia of his decision earlier this afternoon.

A Zurich spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au Mr Doyle will leave the company by September 30 “to take up a new opportunity”.

“It’s business as usual and the search for a successor has begun,” she said.

Mr Doyle left AIG in the UK to join Zurich Financial Services Australia in February 2010 as GM General Insurance. He was appointed CEO General Insurance in March last year when the company’s life/investment and general insurance arms were split.

In a statement supplied to insuranceNEWS.com.au this afternoon, Mr Doyle said he will leave behind “a talented leadership team, a sound and globally aligned general insurance strategy and a business structured to deliver more effectively to the specific needs of our corporate/mid market and SME segments”.

“My time at Zurich has been among the most rewarding of my career,” he said.

More details in Monday’s regular edition of insuranceNEWS.com.au.