QBE has announced the retirements of GM New Zealand Bill Donovan and CEO Pacific Sylvain Flore as it continues to restructure.

Andrew Corbett has been appointed to the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer New Zealand and Pacific.

QBE recently said its Asia-Pacific division will be carved up, with Pacific and India becoming part of a new Australian Pacific division from next month, led by current Australia and New Zealand CEO Vivek Bhatia.

It also put in place a new leadership structure within the division as part of efforts to become stronger, simpler and closer to the customer.

“Andrew will work with Sylvain and Bill over the coming months, with Bill moving into an advisory role as GM Broker Relations New Zealand and Pacific until later [next year],” Chief Customer Officer Commercial Lines Jason Clarke says in a note to QBE staff.

Mr Corbett is currently GM Elders Insurance, which recently moved into QBE’s commercial lines team that reports to Mr Clarke.

He has more than 30 years’ experience in the UK and Australia, holding senior positions in general and life insurance. Previous employers include CommInsure, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac.

In a note to brokers, Mr Bhatia thanks the retiring Mr Donovan for “all his efforts in leading our New Zealand business and supporting me as part of my leadership team”.

He says Mr Flore, who will retire in March, has been with QBE almost 32 years and “has built a strong and united team in the Pacific, consistently delivering results through strong relationships with distribution and claims partners”.

Peter Mackereth has been promoted to the GM Elders role on an interim basis. QBE says he has 30 years’ insurance experience across product, underwriting, sales and distribution.