Bupa has announced leadership changes in both its UK and Australian health insurance divisions.
Chris Carroll (pictured), currently the managing director of Bupa Health Insurance in Australia, has been named the new chief executive officer of Bupa Health Insurance in the UK, effective from January 2025. He will relocate to London for the position, where he will report to Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO for Bupa Global, India & UK.
In Australia, Kate Williams, director of the domestic retail portfolio, will step in as acting managing director of health insurance. She will temporarily assume the role while Bupa initiates an internal and external search for a permanent replacement.
During Carroll’s tenure, Bupa’s health insurance membership in Australia expanded to over 4.4 million, with the company now holding more than 25% market share after several consecutive quarters of growth.
Carroll has also been credited with improving customer value through new products and partnerships with Bupa’s dental business.
He joined Bupa in 2020 as director of the domestic retail portfolio and became managing director of health insurance in March 2022. His career spans over 25 years in commercial leadership roles, including time as CEO of WS Audiology Asia Pacific and various senior positions in media and telecommunications in both Australia and Europe.
Commenting on the UK appointment, Nick Stone, CEO of Bupa Asia Pacific, emphasised the company’s global leadership pipeline and Carroll’s significant contributions in Australia.
“Chris will bring his extensive experience in Australia’s mature private health market to lead the ambitious transformation plans for Bupa UK Insurance,” he said.
Williams, who has been with Bupa for over three years, is set to lead the Australian health insurance operations in the interim.
Stone highlighted Williams’s commitment to customers and deep understanding of the company’s health insurance business, positioning her to continue delivering value to customers and partners.
“I’m delighted Kate has agreed to step into the role of acting managing director, health insurance,” he said.
Williams previously held the role of general manager of customer strategy and go-to-market before moving to her current position in March 2022, where she has been responsible for product development and customer solutions for the retail portfolio.
Bupa has initiated the search for a permanent managing director of health insurance for its Australian operations.
