The Underwriting Agencies Council (
UAC) has announced a new chairman at its annual general meeting, held in Sydney this week.
Lyndon Turner, CEO at
NM Insurance, has taken on the role following his re-election to the board and Heath Amber, director of
Millennium Underwriting Agencies, decision to step aside.
Amber will remain on the board and said that Turner's appointment highlights the “continued renewal of leadership and direction” of UAC.
Turner told
Insurance Business that he is excited to accept the challenges and opportunities that come with the chairmanship and thanked Amber for his support.
“I’m excited and I’m certainly humbled by the fact that my peers on the board haven chosen me and supported me to take this next step,” Turner said.
“I’ve been a vice-chair now for a good couple of years and to take on the chairmanship and to bring forward the plans for the 2020 vision that we have is an exciting challenge and I’m looking forward to it.
“I made a note of thanking Heath in our first get together immediately following the board meeting and I personally thank him for his leadership and support.
“He has worked very closely with us, the board, and created that direction and created the stability within our board to make sure that this forward evolution could take that next step.”
Turner and the three other board members, company secretary Peter Fryer, from XL Catlin; Peter Marshall, from
ProRisk; and Kurt Nilsen, from Lion Underwriting, were all re-elected to their positions on the board.
Amber paid tribute to UAC general manager,
William Legge, for his dedication to the organisation and the benefits this has for the group.
“William extends enormous energy and passion to the agency sector. His commitment to UAC’s day-to-day operations enables the board to focus on strategy, member involvement and future opportunities,” Amber said.
Turner predicted that 2016 may be a challenging year for the industry as a whole, UAC will be able to meet these challenges head on.
“I think, like the market, 2016 will have its challenges but from an underwriting agencies perspective, underwriting agencies provide that level of diversity, ownership, energy and enthusiasm that the market desires,” Turner continued.
“Whilst, no doubt, there will be challenges they will be positive challenges and at times challenges that we have to meet, but as the united voice of the UAC we are here to support and we have the strength of the membership across Australia and New Zealand to meet those.”
