Helia Group has appointed Mark Senkevics (pictured) as CEO, capping an extensive executive search with a hire from one of the sector's most prominent broking groups.
Senkevics, who has led Steadfast's underwriting agencies division since joining the group in 2024, will take up the role, according to an ASX announcement, on or before December 1 2026. He succeeds Michael Cant, who stepped into the interim CEO role last year from his CFO position. Cant's contract will be extended to allow a smooth handover before he retires from full-time executive work. Craig Ward, who has served as Interim CFO over the same period, will be formally appointed to the CFO role from July 1 2026.
Helia describes itself as Australia's largest specialist provider of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LML). Chair Leona Murphy said the appointment reflected both Senkevics' experience and the company's ambitions.
"Mark brings more than 25 years of insurance industry experience including leadership positions across Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific markets," Murphy said. "He is well placed to lead Helia as it builds on its 60-year heritage of supporting Australians to buy, invest and upgrade their homes."
For brokers, Senkevics is a familiar name. His time leading Steadfast's underwriting agencies placed him at the intersection of broker relationships, specialist product development and distribution — experience that translates directly to Helia's core business of working with lenders and intermediaries on mortgage insurance solutions.
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Senkevics said he was drawn to the opportunity at a moment of genuine change in the Australian lending and homeownership landscape. "Helia has built a strong reputation through the expertise and commitment of its people and I look forward to working with the talented Helia team, its customers and partners to build on the Company's vision to be Australia's most trusted risk partner for home lending," he said.
His departure from Steadfast comes as the group navigates its own leadership transition. Long-serving CEO Robert Kelly — who co-founded Steadfast in 1996 and built it into the largest general insurance broker network and underwriting agency group in Australia and New Zealand — is expected to move to the board later this year. Senkevics was likely seen as a credible future candidate for that role, meaning his move adds another dimension to Steadfast's succession planning.
Separately, Steadfast Group also attracted significant market attention today with its shares entering a trading halt pending an announcement about a potential control transaction.
The halt will remain in place until that announcement is released or until normal trading resumes on Friday, 12 June. Shares had last traded at $3.95, giving the company a market capitalisation of approximately $4.39 billion.
The Australian Financial Review, citing unnamed sources, reported that Steadfast had received a takeover approach, with speculation pointing toward large offshore players. The paper noted that "logical candidates include the NYSE-listed giants Marsh McLennan and Arthur J. Gallagher, as well as the UK's Ardonagh Group — all prolific deal-doers in Australia."
For brokers across the Steadfast network, any transaction of that nature would carry real operational implications — touching everything from market access and technology platforms to the commercial terms that underpin daily business.
Insurance Business will continue to provide updates as they become available.
