Insurtech investor Envest has hired Hollard Commercial Insurance (HCi) CEO Richard Heilig to take up the newly created position of Chief Commercial Officer.

Mr Heilig will start his tenure when the next financial year begins on July 1, a spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au today.

Envest says his appointment is a “major coup” for the business as it seeks to scale up its presence in the insurance industry, where it has made significant investments in insurtechs and holds an interest in a group of 11 brokers operating under the Aviso Group brand.

“[Mr Heilig] has been behind some of Hollard’s most successful business ventures, including Ando and HCi, and the Envest/Hollard joint venture and premium funder Attvest,” Envest MD Greg Mullins said.

“We’ve worked closely together on a number of other businesses in the Envest portfolio that started out as Hollard Partners, so [he] has a very good understanding and appreciation of what we do.

“In the next 6-12 months, Envest will be actively looking to increase our investment in entrepreneurial, future-focused insurance businesses and grow our insurance distribution network. [His] experience and commercial acumen will help us achieve this.”

Hollard Insurance CEO Richard Enthoven thanked Mr Heilig, who he says is leaving “on the best of terms” after many years with the business.

“He has been an integral member of our Hollard family, and trusted adviser who leaves us on the best of terms,” Mr Enthoven said. “In this role, [he] will be working closely with a number of Hollard clients which means he will remain a key and valued part of our wider Hollard family”.

Mr Heilig joined Hollard Insurance Group in South Africa in 1998 and relocated to Australia in 2008, according to the insurer’s website. He has worked in a number of senior roles across the organisation including as Head of Hollard Business Partners and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr Enthoven says the new HCi CEO will be recruited internally and CFO Jack Joubert will fill the role on an interim basis.

"Consistent with Hollard’s preference for prioritising internal promotions, [Mr Joubert] will take on the role of interim CEO of HCi whilst we go through a formal process of appointing an internal replacement CEO," he said.

"Jack is a qualified actuary and has held a number of leadership positions in the Hollard Group and has, most recently, served as the CFO of HCi. He is therefore intimately familiar with the HCi business."