Zurich’s Australian operation has announced a new insurance head today with industry veteran Tim Plant set to step into the senior role.

According to the company, Plant will officially come on board in the first week of August and will serve as the CEO of general insurance for Australia and New Zealand.

“Tim brings significant industry experience and a strong focus on innovation and customer centricity,” said Jack Howell, Zurich Asia Pacific CEO.

“I’m confident that his enthusiasm and leadership will add to the positive momentum we are seeing across our Australian general insurance business, and I look forward to working with him to bring the best of Zurich to our customers and partners.”

Plant brings more than 25 years’ experience to the table with a career spanning insurance, reinsurance and financial services. He joins Zurich from icare, where he was the group executive of insurance for NSW, the largest public sector self-insurer in Australia.

“I’m delighted to be joining Zurich at a time when the general insurance business is on a strong trajectory and enjoying a unique position in the intermediated insurance market,” said Plant.

“I’m excited about working with Zurich’s executive team and people to keep improving this business and the service and propositions it delivers to its broker partners and customers,” he added.

Interim CEO Chris Waterman will continue to oversee Zurich’s Australian general insurance business until Plant’s commencement, after which he will return to his role as head of commercial insurance, based in Singapore.