Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO Rob Whelan will step down after almost a decade leading the industry body.

Reliable industry sources have confirmed that an announcement about his departure is imminent, but ICA declined to comment when contacted by insuranceNEWS.com.au today.

Mr Whelan joined ICA in March 2010, after holding senior positions in insurance and banking.

He managed corporate affairs and policy functions in major insurers including AAMI and Suncorp, also working at AMP, Legal & General and Colonial Mutual. He also held senior management roles within the healthcare sector.

His introduction to the role was difficult, with insurers facing fierce criticism following the 2011 Queensland floods shortly after he started.

But Mr Whelan has overseen significant reforms during his tenure, not least the recently completed extensive review of the General Insurance Code of Practice, which now has a renewed focus on vulnerable consumers.

He also impressed with his representation of the industry during the Hayne royal commission hearings in 2018, where he confidently explained the thinking around a number of critical issues.

ICA will not comment on the recruitment process that will follow Mr Whelan’s departure.

It’s likely the ICA board will cast a wide net to find a CEO capable of dealing with the increasing range of political, regulatory, economic and community challenges facing the industry.

The council also contains a deep pool of experienced talent in its ranks. Its website lists its executive team as Head of Risk and Operations Karl Sullivan, Head of Regulation John Anning, Head of Communications and Media Relations Campbell Fuller, Head of Consumer Outcomes Fiona Cameron, Head of Human Resources and Administration Deborah Moore, Head of Government and Stakeholder Relations Richard Shields, and Head of Corporate Services and Company Secretary Adrian Dolin.