Hollard Australia CEO Richard Enthoven has stepped down from international roles to focus on the business he set up in Sydney 15 years ago.

Mr Enthoven will no longer serve as chairman of Hollard Insurance Company and Hollard Life Assurance Company in South Africa.

His cousin, businessman and philanthropist Adrian Enthoven, will take over with immediate effect.

Richard Enthoven told insuranceNEWS.com.au Hollard Australia will focus on “doing more of the same and doing it better”.

“We hope to end next year with 1 million Australian customers,” he said. “I also think we’ll back a handful of entrepreneurs starting specialist insurance businesses this year.

“During the past decade a number of agencies have been consolidated into the corporates and I am convinced we are about to see a wave of new entrepreneurs. Hollard will be in their camp.”

Hollard is South Africa’s largest privately owned insurance group. Hollard Australia has more than 1000 employees and covers more than 750,000 policyholders across a range of products.