Hollard Insurance was crowned large general insurance company of the year at the Australian Insurance Industry Awards while its CEO Richard Enthoven, who is also President and Chairman of the Insurance Council of Australia, took out the insurance leader of the year honour.

The awards, hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, were held in Sydney on Thursday night, marking the 16th year of the event.

“We’re delighted and a little overwhelmed,” Mr Enthoven told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “It is a huge honour and a recognition of 20 years of work of which I am really proud.”

Lawcover was named direct general insurance company of the year.

Hobart-based RACT Insurance won best small/medium general insurance company for the second year in a row, while large broking company of the year was Marsh, also for a second straight year. Warren Saunders Insurance Brokers received the small/medium broker award.

Excellence in workplace diversity and inclusion went to CHU Underwriting Agencies, while underwriting agency of the year was awarded to Club Marine Insurance.

The authorised representative group winner was Insurance Advisernet Australia. The authorised representative business award went to CPR Insurance Services.

Jillian Pancott, from Sedgwick, claimed the young insurance professional of the year honour.

Other category winners were:

• Service provider to insurance: Independent Validation Advisory Australia (IVAA)
• Professional services firm: Barry.Nilsson
• Insurance learning program: Sedgwick’s Hub Triple C
• Insurtech program: Canceraid
• Life insurance company: MetLife Australia.