Vero NZ’s new CEO Gary Dransfield has taken over the role four months earlier than previously announced.

Long-serving CEO Roger Bell was due to hand over the reins in September, but a company spokesman confirmed to insuranceNEWS.com.au today that Mr Bell is no longer running the New Zealand business.

“We are in a transition period between CEOs and Mr Bell is now in Europe,” he said. “He is no longer running Vero NZ – Mr Dransfield is.”

The spokesman confirmed Mr Bell won’t officially leave the company until September. Mr Bell was with Vero NZ for 38 years, including working for its previous incarnations Royal & SunAlliance and Promina.

Mr Dransfield joined Suncorp in 2009 and became EGM Retail Distribution at Vero before taking up his new role in NZ.