Zurich Australia General Insurance CEO Tim Plant is leaving the business to join IAG as Chief Insurance and Strategy Officer before the end of the year.

IAG announced today Mr Plant has been recruited to take up the newly-created position.

The insurer says Mr Plant will be accountable for group governance across underwriting, claims and customer experience, together with developing and driving the implementation of IAG’s strategy. The role will also be responsible for IAG’s innovation and ventures activities.

“[He] brings a considerable depth of underwriting and insurance experience, as well as a deep understanding of customer needs through his leadership roles in the Australian and New Zealand general insurance markets,” IAG MD and CEO Nick Hawkins said.

“[His] experience will further bolster IAG’s leadership and I look forward to welcoming [him] to the team.”

Zurich says it has appointed Justin Delaney as Country CEO, with responsibility for the insurer’s General Insurance (GI) and Life and Investments businesses in Australia and New Zealand, following Mr Plant’s decision to leave.

Mr Delaney starts today in the role, a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Mr Delaney was most recently CEO Life and Investments, taking up the role when he joined Zurich in December 2019.

Zurich Chief Underwriting Officer of GI Australia & New Zealand Sean Walker will support Mr Delaney in the management of the GI business, the insurer says in a statement.

“In [Mr Delaney], we are fortunate to have a strong leader who has extensive experience in the local insurance industry and a solid track record in delivering customer-centred innovation,” Zurich APAC Regional CEO Tulsi Naidu said.

“[Mr Walker] has been with the Zurich business for more than 10 years, he has held a variety of market-facing, underwriting and leadership roles over the course of his career and is well placed to support [Mr Delaney].”

Mr Plant started with Zurich in August 2018. Previously he was the Group Executive of Insurance for NSW at icare, and he held senior roles at QBE between 2009 and 2016.