Ansvar CEO Andrew Moon has denied rumours the Melbourne-based company is losing business and has staffing issues.

He says the company is experiencing change, but retention rates remain the same.

Mr Moon acknowledged that the company has lost staff in recent times, but said this is due to strategic changes made in the past 18 months, such as the decision to exit personal lines.

“Actions speak louder than words,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “Our retention rates are the same despite massive premium increases.”

He says feedback from brokers is positive and that Ansvar is “growing up”.

“Feedback I get directly is that it’s nice to see Ansvar coming of age,” he said. “We’re showing some backbone; we know what business we want to underwrite.

“We were a soft touch – we’re not any more.”

Mr Moon says the company asked brokers for their perceptions of Ansvar. “They said, ‘You’re perceived as nice’. This is lovely but not commercial; I want us to be regarded as professional.

“The essence is to maintain culture, vision and values in a professional way.”

ACS (NZ) Ltd, the former Ansvar NZ, asked its policyholders last week to vote on a contingency scheme for settling ongoing earthquake-related claims should the company’s financial position deteriorate. 

The scheme will go ahead after a 95% vote in favour by claimants.