Emma Thomas, a former executive at New Zealand rural insurer Farmers Mutual Group, has been appointed CEO of agricultural insurer Achmea Australia.

She replaces Timo van Voorden, who returns to the Netherlands after spending the past five years establishing the Dutch company in Australia.

Ms Thomas’ roles at Farmer’s Mutual included head of advice and sales, national sales manager and financial controller.

Before that she was finance manager at IT and services company Fronde and a senior auditor at Deloitte.