Zurich Australia has won the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) general insurer of the year award for a second consecutive year.

It beat fellow finalists QBE and CGU in the closest contest in the award’s 16-year history, with only 14 votes separating the winner and third-placed CGU.

Last year Zurich took the title from QBE, which had won for 11 consecutive years from 2002-12. CGU returns to the podium this year after an absence of several years.

The award is voted for by NIBA brokers, who rate insurers’ products and services in a range of categories. A record 1148 brokers completed the survey this year.