Two Suncorp non-executive directors have retired from the board following the company’s decision in November to relax its Queensland residency rules.

Martin Kriewaldt and Cherrell Hirst departed the insurer this month. Mr Kriewaldt joined the Suncorp board in 1996 while Dr Hirst joined in 2002.

Both had earlier links to the company, with Mr Kriewaldt a former chairman and Dr Hirst a director of merger partner Metway Bank.

Their departure follows changes under which a rule that 40% of directors must live in Queensland was scrapped, with only the MD now required to live in Queensland.

That followed a Queensland Government decision to abandon the legal obligation created when Suncorp, Metway Bank and the Queensland Industry Development Corporation merged in 1996.

A directive that the Suncorp head office be based in Queensland remains in place. The board now comprises nine directors.