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An experienced chief executive with more than 30 years of experience in a variety of industries has been appointed as head of Bupa New Zealand.
Hisham El-Ansary, chief financial and strategy officer for Bupa’s Australia and New Zealand business, will commence the role of CEO for Australia and New Zealand in April. He will succeed current CEO, Richard Bowden, who will leave the company after nearly two decades of service.
El-Ansary joined the health fund in 2008 and since then has held a variety of roles, including managing director of the health services business as well as holding responsibility for strategy, M&A, and business development. In 2012, he moved to the UK for four years as chief executive of Bupa’s UK businesses, returning to his native Australia in 2017.
Over the past three decades, El-Ansary has held senior executive roles in a variety of industries, including retail, energy, aviation, and construction. He is a fellow of CPA Australia and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is also a director of children’s charity, Very Special Kids.
El-Ansary’s “knowledge of Bupa and of the health and care sector make him ideally equipped to lead Bupa Australia and New Zealand over the next phase of its development,” said Nicola Roxon, Bupa Australia and New Zealand chairman. “He is a passionate advocate for excellence and for putting customers front and centre, and we look forward to a smooth leadership transition over the coming months.”
Roxon also recognised Bowden’s long and distinguished career with Bupa.
Bowden “has made a wonderful contribution to Bupa and will leave a lasting legacy when he retires from Bupa next year,” Roxon said. “We have known about Richard’s plans for some time and are delighted Hisham has been appointed as his successor.”
