Chris Black, the CEO of rural insurer FMG, has replaced Vero’s Gary Dransfield as the Insurance Council of New Zealand President.

Medical Assurance Society CEO Martin Stokes has been named as Vice-President.

Ace Country President New Zealand Andrew Brooks and Vero New Zealand CEO Paul Smeaton have been elected to the board.

Mr Black has been CEO of rural insurer FMG since December 2008 and also has experience in banking, corporate strategy, customer service and financial and risk management.

Mr Stokes has held several senior positions in financial services and has more than 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry.

Until recently he was chairman of the Insurance & Savings Ombudsman (ISO) board and a member of the ISO Commission.

Mr Brooks has 24 years’ industry experience, mostly at international broking firms.

Mr Smeaton became Vero New Zealand CEO in September, replacing Mr Dransfield, who is now CEO Personal Insurance at Suncorp.  

Over a financial services career stretching over more than 30 years, Mr Smeaton has worked in banking, funds management, stockbroking and insurance. He holds directorships at Vero Liability Insurance New Zealand and AA Insurance.