Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) has appointed IAG NZ chief executive Amanda Whiting as its new president and Farmers Mutual Group chief executive Adam Heath as its new vice-president.
Whiting replaces Toni Ferrier who has stepped down from the role as she has moved to become country manager for Marsh McLennan which is not an ICNZ member.
Whiting was ICNZ’s immediate vice-president and Heath was appointed as the new vice-president by the ICNZ board.
“I want to acknowledge the valuable contribution Toni Ferrier made during her term as president and wish her success in her new role,” Whiting says.
In addition, ICNZ has appointed former cabinet minister Kris Faafoi to be its new chief executive from April 2024.
Whiting says Faafoi will take over from current chief executive Tim Grafton after he steps down on April 7.
“I’m delighted we can appoint someone of Kris’ calibre who has a track record of demonstrated leadership together with extensive experience and understanding of the machinery of government and the financial sector,” Whiting says.
“Kris Faafoi is well known to many New Zealanders – he has a strong background in media, has served as a cabinet minister, with responsibility for many portfolios over his political career, and most recently has been running his own consulting business.
“Kris will bring strong relationship-building capability, global knowledge and an approach that will support the industry to build on its already strong reputation,” Whiting says.
Faafoi says he is looking forward to commencing in the role.
“It’s been a challenging 12 months for insurers. I’m looking forward to leading the industry through the next period, focussing on influencing a sustainable industry, and, more importantly, ensuring that New Zealanders can continue to protect the things they love when disaster strikes,” he says.
There will be a four-week handover period from early March before Faafoi takes on the new role.
Whiting praised Grafton’s contribution to the insurance industry.
“Tim Grafton has made a significant contribution to the insurance industry that cannot be underestimated. I do not doubt that when the time comes to farewell him there will be many across the industry, and broader stakeholders, that will want to recognise this and wish him well,” she says.
