Austbrokers Divisional Chief Executive Nigel Thomas will leave AUB Group effective next month after his position was made redundant, while InterRisk MD Phil Kearns departed the brokerage last week in other changes.

AUB CEO Mike Emmett says he will be taking a more direct managerial role in the core Austbrokers division, removing the need for the position held by Mr Thomas.

“I’m passionate about restoring the Austbrokers legacy and recovering our leadership in the market,” he said in a message to the network last week.

“Part of this, I believe, is the need for me as the Group CEO to be in close and direct contact with our broking and underwriting principals and for us to evolve the way in which we co-ordinate activities across the group.”

AUB Group is also building its focus on the larger business and middle market sectors under an Austbrokers Corporate banner.

Mr Emmett says Mr Kearns has left InterRisk in a mutual decision, with the firm’s Head of Broking John Mutton taking on the leadership role on an interim basis.

Mr Mutton says InterRisk, based in Sydney, is unusual within AUB. Its major focus is on corporate business, and “it is a very big part of the Australian economy. We are looking to grow a vibrant corporate business,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Mr Mutton joined the firm in 2005 and was appointed Head of Broking two years ago. He won the National Insurance Brokers Association Broker of the Year award in 2014.

AUB holds a 90.5% stake in InterRisk Australia and its controlled entities as of June 30, according to its annual report, are up from 79% two years ago. It acquired a controlling shareholding in InterRisk in 2013.

Mr Kearns, a former Wallabies rugby captain and a director of ANZ Stadium, had led InterRisk since 2015.