Steadfast-owned strata insurer CHU announced today Kimberley Jonsson will succeed CEO Bobby Lehane when he leaves the business in March next year, after more than five years at the helm.

Ms Jonsson, presently CHU Regional Manager NSW/ACT, will start on April 1, becoming the first woman to take up the role.

Steadfast CEO and MD Robert Kelly thanked Mr Lehane for his stewardship of the business and is confident his successor, who has been with the strata specialist for 15 years, is the right person to take over.

“[Ms Jonsson] is a formidable executive who has a proven track record of success and I am delighted to see her continue her amazing career at CHU,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Lehane says the appointment of Ms Jonsson as incoming CEO marks a “perfect ending to this chapter” of his career.

“I am just thrilled that [she] will succeed me as CEO,” he said. “It is undoubtedly one of the best insurance roles in Australia, and I couldn’t be happier to see an internal successor appointed."

Mr Lehane says he has been frank with his team and intermediaries on the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.

“I have been vocal… that while the pandemic has changed how we do things, it should not be used as an excuse to defer important decisions,” he said. “This rationale also applies to myself.

“I could not be more pleased with the progress, growth and indeed development of CHU over the past five-and-a-half years. It has been the most enjoyable time of my career, but I am now ready for a new challenge.”

Mr Lehane became CEO in April 2015, with his appointment announced shortly after Steadfast acquired the business from QBE. Before CHU, he was EGM commercial insurance with Zurich.

Ms Jonsson says it’s a “dream come true” for her, as she started her insurance career at CHU.

“[Mr Lehane’s] energetic leadership has enabled CHU to thrive and become a resilient organisation which is stronger in every sense than the one he inherited in 2015,” she said.

“Operationally, we are well placed to deliver upon our strategy to 2025 and I am very optimistic for the future.”

Ms Jonsson joined CHU in 2005 as customer service officer in Adelaide before climbing up the ranks, according to her LinkedIn account.