IAG New Zealand Chief Risk Officer Karl Armstrong has been named NZ insurance leader of the year by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance.

Mr Armstrong was appointed to the new role in September, having served as NZI EGM since 2008. He is also a former head of underwriting at IAG New Zealand.

Other winners at the New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards ceremony in Auckland last Thursday include broking professional of the year James Shearing from Crombie Lockwood and emerging young professional June Kuan from NZI.

“While there are a lot of great things happening globally in the insurance community, make no mistake – New Zealand is leading the world,” institute CEO Prue Willsford said.

The other winners were:

• Large broking company of the year: Rothbury Insurance Brokers
• Life insurance company: Asteron Life
• Claims service provider: Cunningham Lindsey
• Law firm: DLA Phillips Fox
• Direct insurance company: AA Insurance
• Service provider: Finity Consulting
• Intermediated insurance company: NZI
• Innovation of the year: Tower.