Martin McAvenna will retire as GM of Austbrokers & IBNA Member Services (AIMS) on June 30 after almost six years in the role and more than 40 years in the insurance industry.

But he prefers to call it a “redirection” in life, rather than retirement.

“Hopefully I can still make a contribution based on my experience in the insurance market,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Mr McAvenna became AIMS GM in 2009. He was previously executive director of Austbrokers’ underwriting agencies business Austagencies.

“AIMS is a terrific group of 130-plus brokers with a great range of skills across corporate, SMEs and domestic – predominantly SMEs,” he said. “We’ve been able to contribute to our members’ success; that’s our reason for being.

“We assist with opportunities for growth, but it’s our members that do the work.”

AIMS was formed in 2007 to bring together the Austbrokers and IBNA groups, providing efficiencies and economies of scale, marketing support, product services, training and personal development, and research.

Austbrokers and IBNA renewed the joint-venture agreement in 2012. AIMS has GWP of $3 billion.

“We have two primarily SME broker groups that work collaboratively but competitively. There’s a level of mutual respect, while also maintaining the independence of each,” Mr McAvenna said.

“Another aspect that is so enjoyable is I get to work with the best of the insurance industry.

“It’s a pretty good place to be if you’re an insurance professional; it becomes a never-ending process of learning.”

Mr McAvenna was chairman of the Underwriting Agencies Council (UAC) in 2008/09, stepping down when he took up his appointment at AIMS.