Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) CEO Rob Whelan has been appointed Membership Executive for the Global Federation of Insurance Associations (GFIA).

He replaces American Insurance Association CEO Leigh-Ann Pusey. The move was confirmed when the federation met in Amsterdam last week.

At the same meeting, American Council of Life Insurers CEO Dirk Kempthorne became the new GFIA Chairman, taking up a two-year term.

Mr Kempthorne is a former governor of Idaho and was President George W Bush’s interior secretary.

GFIA Vice-Chairman Recaredo Arias (Association of Mexican Insurance Companies), Treasurer Shizuharu Kubono (Life Insurance Association of Japan) and Secretary Michaela Koller (Insurance Europe) remain in their positions.

ICA is a founding member of the federation, formed in 2012 by 32 life and health, property and casualty and reinsurance associations.

It now represents 38 associations, which account for $US4 trillion ($4.56 trillion), or 87%, of total insurance premium worldwide.