QBE appoints CEO of Australian and New Zealand operations

QBE Insurance Group has named Vivek Bhatia as chief executive officer (CEO), Australian and New Zealand Operations (ANZO), following an extensive global search.

Bhatia replaces Pat Regan who was appointed group CEO in September 2017 from the role of CEO, ANZO.

Bhatia joins QBE from icare, the New South Wales Government public financial corporation managing the state’s insurance and care schemes. He played a critical role in the formation of icare in 2014 and was appointed as the inaugural CEO and managing director. Prior to this, he co-led the Asia Pacific restructuring and transformation practice at McKinsey & Company and before that, was the CEO, Australian underwriting operations at Wesfarmers Insurance. Bhatia also worked at QBE 15 years ago.

Vivek will join QBE in the first quarter of 2018 and will be based in Sydney. He reports to Regan, and forms part of the group executive committee.

Regan said: “I am very excited that Vivek is joining QBE and the executive team. He brings a wealth of experience across the insurance and management consulting sectors with a track record in large scale business and cultural transformation. He reflects QBE’s passion for building customer and employee satisfaction and is well credentialed to leverage the strong platform in the Australia and New Zealand business.”

Bhatia commented: “I feel very privileged to take on this important leadership role at QBE, where I started my insurance journey 15 years ago. I am very excited at the opportunity to further enhance the strong position QBE has in these markets.”

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