DUAL Group has overhauled its leadership team in its Australian and New Zealand operations, effective October 01, 2023.
Current DUAL ANZ managing director Leo Abbruzzo will take on the role of executive chairman of DUAL ANZ.
Commenting on the promotion, DUAL Asia Pacific CEO Damien Coates highlighted Abbruzzo's significant contribution to the group.
“When Leo and I founded DUAL almost 20 years ago, we could never have dreamt of building such a great underwriting business, predominantly organically, to $400M premium across 7 offices in Australia and New Zealand. Leo has always been the heart of DUAL, and I am positive this will continue as he transitions from operational management while maintaining his critical guidance and leadership in support of our ongoing growth,” he said.
DUAL Group boosted its client management capabilities by appointing deputy CEO Michael Ussher to be responsible for the overall client management function in Australia, comprising four branches, online platforms including BizCover, marketing and communications, and the group's national broker partners.
Kerryn Symes has also been appointed as head of national partnerships to support the continued development of growth strategies with key broking partners. She will report to Ussher as will branch managers Adrian Salamone (Southern), Anthony Morgan (Queensland), Daniel Brown (NSW), and Dragana Ljubicic (Western Australia).
For the underwriting and claims team, DUAL Group appointed Craig Wincote as ANZ chief underwriting officer (CUO), a newly created role. In this new role, he will be responsible for product management, claims, and actuarial as he assumes responsibility for the existing product suite of financial lines, accident & health, cyber, general liability, and property and motor in New Zealand.
Coates commented: “I am extremely thrilled for Craig's promotion, which is tremendous recognition for his long-term display of expertise in the key functions which will sit under him as CUO.”
Lastly, DUAL New Zealand general manager Paula Sheppard-Jones will now report directly to Coates.
DUAL New Zealand was awarded as Most Diverse Insurance Companies in NZ in the recent 5-Star Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 2023. Read the full report here.
