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ANZIIF set to merge with the UK’s Chartered Insurance Institute

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) is planning to merge with its UK counterpart, the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

ANZIIF GM Operations and Business Systems Ewen Wilson says the global insurance industry will benefit from the formation of a single body.

“We believe that a worldwide organisation which sets the professional standards and delivers the educational needs of the industry is the best outcome for the global insurance community,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“As such we are investigating a number of possible opportunities in line with our vision. Chief among these is a merger between ANZIIF and the CII.”

While Mr Wilson says it is too early to give a timetable for the merger, insuranceNEWS.com.au understands high-level discussions between the two associations have been going on for some months and are nearing completion.

“If it goes ahead, a full merger between our organisations would create the largest professional membership and education body for insurance and financial services professionals in the world,” Mr Wilson said.

CII Head of Media Relations Elliot Lane has confirmed “talks are ongoing”.

ANZIIF National Marketing Manager Cameron Skews says the institute will “talk to our members before announcing any details”.

Although ANZIIF is one of the CII’s 66 affiliate institutes, the two associations have increasingly found themselves battling for supremacy in the growing Asian market.

The CII, which celebrated its centenary in 1997, now has a presence in 150 countries. It has 90,000 members, more than 10% of whom are in the Asia/Pacific region.

ANZIIF, which was formed in 1919 by the amalgamation of state institutes, has just over 12,000 members in 28 countries including Australia, NZ, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Malaysia.