Wesfarmers Insurance’s new MD has “no radical plans” for the company’s business units, but believes the diversified insurance/broking company it is “strongly positioned” for future growth.

Anthony Gianotti, who was confirmed in the position on Friday, has been acting in the role since the end of February, when former MD Rob Scott transferred across to retail giant Coles as finance director.

A WA-raised chartered accountant, Mr Gianotti worked at Ernst & Young, Hambros Bank and Societe Generale before joining Wesfarmers in 2004 as a business development manager.

He became investor relations and business projects manager the following year before being appointed head of business development and strategy at Wesfarmers Insurance in December 2006.

He has been finance director and director of a number of subsidiary boards at the company since 2009.

Wesfarmers MD Richard Goyder says Mr Gianotti is “extremely well qualified” and “has done a terrific job helping to drive the improvement of the performance of the insurance business in a very challenging environment”. 

Mr Gianotti told insuranceNEWS.com.au the company’s insurance and broking companies in Australia and New Zealand and a broking business in the UK “puts us in a strong position”.

“We’ve become a much stronger business in terms of risk selection, pricing and underwriting capabilities,” he said. “We’ve got a strong leadership team and we’re making team decisions.

“I’ve been with this company for over six and a half years and we have weathered some big challenges.”

He says he will continue to develop the company and its opportunities. “You don’t turn a company like this around overnight. But I’m very confident about the company’s future.”