IAG has appointed long-serving manager Paul Ayton as MD of authorised representative (AR) groups Westcourt General Insurance Brokers and National Adviser Services (NAS).

The insurer bought Perth-based Westcourt on July 1, adding to its NAS business, and is working on plans to combine the two AR groups.

“Under Paul’s guidance we can continue the comprehensive review and make key decisions to progress the integration of these two very successful and complementary businesses,” IAG EGM Niche and Direct Stuart Chapman said. Mr Chapman is also Chairman of the NAS Board.

NAS interim MD James How will leave the business but will support Mr Ayton with the transition in coming months, IAG says.

Westcourt interim MD Jeff Hollands will continue with the combined business as National Manager Network Relationships.

Mr Ayton has been with IAG for more than 16 years and was most recently responsible for corporate partnering. He was Swann Insurance GM from 2011 until this year.

Westcourt’s businesses are primarily based in metropolitan centres, while NAS is among the largest rural and regional general insurance brokers in Australia. The combined group will operate as an independent organisation with its own board and management team.

The name of the combined business will be considered in the review, but in the near term Westcourt and NAS will continue under their current names, a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.