Wesfarmers Insurance MD Rob Scott will leave his position later this month after being promoted to Finance Director at Wesfarmers stablemate Coles Supermarkets.

Wesfarmers Insurance Finance Director Anthony Gianotti will become Acting MD pending a permanent replacement.

Mr Scott has run the insurance division since 2007 and completed a two-year term as president of the Insurance Council of Australia at the end of last year.

He has “significantly improved” the operational performance of the insurance arm during “what was an extremely challenging period for the entire insurance industry”, Wesfarmers MD Richard Goyder said in announcing the move.

Mr Scott replaces Tony Buffin, who has resigned to join UK hardware and home improvement retailer Travis Perkins.