Insurance group Auto & General today announced that former RACQ Insurance CEO John Myler will join in January as CEO of its Australian business.

He takes over from Ram Kangatharan, who has been promoted to Group MD and CEO for Asia Pacific.

Auto & General underwrites the insurance operations of Budget Direct, 1st for Women, Ozicare, Australia Post, Virgin Money and ING, and last week announced a deal to underwrite car insurance for Qantas.

The airline will expand into home insurance next year, again in partnership with Auto & General.

Mr Myler had been RACQ Insurance CEO since May 2017 after leaving Allianz Australia where he was the Chief Market Manager. He was previously the CEO of Allianz Global Assistance Australia and New Zealand.

He resigned his position at RACQ in July.

Mr Kangatharan told insuranceNEWS.com.au that the Australian operation of South African-owned Budget Insurance Group continues to grow gross written premium by more than 20% a year, compared to the industry average of 4.4%, “and we expect to maintain that level of performance”.

“In [this financial year], we are on track to write more than $1 billion in GWP in Australia for the first time.”

Hitting the one-billion-dollar premium mark is a “great milestone” as Auto & General celebrates 20 years of operating in Australia, he says.