AA Insurance is pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Leishman to the role of Chief Risk Officer, effective Tuesday 29 October.
Vanessa is an experienced enterprise leader and joins AA Insurance direct from ASB. She has worked across all three lines of defence and brings a wealth of multi-sector experience, having also held roles at ANZ, Fairfax Media, Spark New Zealand and PWC.
AA Insurance’s Chief Risk Officer role has previously been held by Helen McNeil, who has led the Risk functions for both AA Insurance and its major shareholder, Suncorp New Zealand.
Vanessa’s appointment follows a period of significant growth for AA insurance, during which the business has expanded to a level where a dedicated CRO is now essential.
AA Insurance CEO, Michelle James said, “We are delighted to welcome Vanessa to our leadership team. Her deep understanding of risk and compliance will help ensure we continue to safeguard our business, customers and communities as we navigate a fast-evolving risk landscape.
“I would like to also acknowledge Helen McNeil who will continue in her role as Suncorp CRO and who has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for this next phase in AA Insurance’s journey,” she said.
Vanessa Leishman said, “I am thrilled to be joining the AA Insurance team. I’m a firm believer in the importance of financial prosperity to the success of all New Zealanders and protecting what matters most with insurance is a key component of this.
“AA Insurance is an iconic and trusted brand that is committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management and sees this as a key enabler for driving great customer and people experiences. I look forward to contributing to the great work already underway by Michelle and the wider team,” she said.
About Vanessa Leishman
Vanessa Leishman is an experienced enterprise leader with 20+ years of experience in risk management leadership. She has expertise in a range of sectors, including Financial Services, Media and Telecommunications.
Vanessa is regarded for taking an enterprise view, balancing risk with financial, customer and people outcomes, and communicating effectively with stakeholders to build buy-in and trust. She is a values-driven leader, with a reputation for building high performing and engaged teams.
About AA Insurance
AA Insurance is a New Zealand-based joint venture between Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited and the New Zealand Automobile Association Limited ('NZAA'). Vero is owned by Suncorp Group Limited, a listed Australian company. NZAA is an incorporated society that is governed by a National Council and Board. Since 1994 we have provided home, contents and car insurance in New Zealand and in 2018 we introduced small business insurance.
We underwrite our own policies and sell direct to New Zealanders. Our New Zealand-based teams looks after 560,000+ customers with more than 1,100,000 policies. Standard and Poor's (Australia) Pty Ltd has given us an Insurer Financial Strength Rating of AA- (Very Strong).
We are consistently recognised in industry awards and honours. This includes being voted the Reader's Digest Most Trusted General Insurer for 14 years running, named Canstar's 2023-2024 Outstanding Value Award winner for Home and Contents insurance and ranked 6th among 50 of New Zealand's top consumer-facing corporates in the Kantar Corporate Reputation Index in 2024.
Find out more at www.aainsurance.co.nz
For more information please contact:
AA Insurance Media Team
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