QBE Interim MD Australia Frank Costigan will leave the company on Friday, just days before his successor arrives.

Mr Costigan joined QBE in 2018 as Chief Customer Officer Personal Lines, appointed by former group CEO Pat Regan.

He stepped up to run the local operations on an interim basis following the departure of Vivek Bhatia last year, but shortly afterwards Mr Regan himself left suddenly.

Westpac’s Sue Houghton was recruited to run the Australia Pacific division on a permanent basis, and she starts on August 3, while Beazley’s Andrew Horton steps into the Group CEO role in September.

“Frank Costigan has decided to leave QBE,” a company spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au today.

“Since joining in 2018, Frank has made a significant impact on the business and we thank him and wish him all the best for the future.

“In line with these leadership changes, two of our interim executive management board positions have now been made permanent: Eleanor Debelle as Chief Customer Officer, Personal Lines, and Shiona Watson as Chief Human Resources Officer, AUSPAC.

“We extend our congratulations to them.”

In a note to staff seen by insuranceNEWS.com.au, Mr Costigan speaks of his sadness at leaving but pride in what has been achieved.

He says in his two years leading personal lines the team “totally re-built our motor and home insurance products, built a Centre of Customer Excellence at Parramatta, and successfully re-launched our digital quote to bind capability.

“The results have been fantastic: direct sales, both digital and telephone, have increased materially; digital end-to-end conversion has doubled; and QBE has won new partnerships with Woolworths, Australia Post and Alinta Energy.”

He says he was humbled to be asked to lead the Australian business on an interim basis.

“I’m also very proud that I’ve been able to make an impact in other ways, such as championing diversity and inclusion here at QBE.”

Before joining QBE Mr Costigan was Youi Australia and New Zealand CEO, and prior to that held senior roles at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and IAG.