IAG’s Group General Counsel Chris Bertuch will leave the insurer in September.

The departure has attracted attention since the Australian Financial Review questioned why Mr Bertuch had been on leave since “at least the start of June”, and the company said he had decided to resign while on leave.

Mr Bertuch was instrumental in selling IAG’s southeast Asian operations last month, plus the acquisition of Wesfarmers’ underwriting business and the relationship with Berkshire Hathaway in 2015.

He also helped establish IAG’s Reconciliation Action Plan in 2013 and founded the insurer’s ethics committee in 2016.

Acting Group General Counsel Rebecca Farrell will fill the position while a replacement is sought.