Zurich CEO Life and Investments Justin Delaney has been elevated to Country CEO, following the announcement that the insurer’s Australia General Insurance CEO Tim Plant is leaving to join IAG before the end of the year.

Zurich says Mr Delaney started in the role last Tuesday, the same day IAG announced Mr Plant would be joining the business.

Mr Delaney, who joined Zurich in December 2019, will oversee the General Insurance (GI) and Life and Investments businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

Zurich Chief Underwriting Officer of GI Australia & New Zealand Sean Walker will support Mr Delaney in the management of the GI business, the insurer says in a statement.

Head of Communications and Marketing General Insurance Nina Mills says it is “business as usual at Zurich” and that the GI business “is in a strong position”.

“Our customers and broker partners can continue to expect quality products and services from us,” she told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“Country CEO, Justin Delaney, will be supported by Sean Walker, Chief Underwriting Officer of GI Australia & New Zealand, to manage the GI business.

“[Mr Walker] is a highly respected and long-standing member of the GI Executive team and is well known by many of our broker partners already.”