An insurance company chief executive who lost his job after last year's Kaikoura earthquake has had his claim for unjustified dismissal rejected by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

Former Allianz New Zealand CEO Eugene Elisara, who was dismissed this year after failing to ensure an underwriting instruction was complied with, claimed he was unjustifiably dismissed and that the disciplinary investigation and process were unfair, a Fairfax article said.

Elisara reportedly said Allianz did not allow him enough of an opportunity to bring representation to the disciplinary meetings, did not give him the opportunity to respond to evidence and did not provide a preliminary decision.

He claimed the decision was pre-determined and he did not have the decision-maker investigate and hear his explanations, the report said.

However, according to Fairfax, ERA member Vicki Campbell ruled that the decision to dismiss Elisara for serious misconduct was substantively justified and within the range of reasonable responses Allianz could take.

Campbell said Elisara was responsible for a substantial breach of his obligations, which caused a significant loss to Allianz.

“He failed in his requirement to ensure 100% compliance with the underwriting instruction,” she said.


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