Insurance group Hollard has named its latest board member today, with an industry veteran set to join the strategic team later this year.

Executive director and CEO Richard Enthoven confirmed this morning that IAG stalwart Karl Armstrong will be joining the Hollard board as a non-executive director, effective 11 June 2019.

“We’re thrilled to welcome someone with Karl’s depth of experience to the Hollard board,” Enthoven said, upon making the announcement.

Armstrong has more than 47 years’ experience in the insurance industry, having joined what was formerly NZI straight out of high school in 1971. Acquired by IAG in 2003, Armstrong has remained within the same organisation since.

Now based in New Zealand, Armstrong’s career spans underwriting, reinsurance and various management roles, and includes an 18-year stint in the UK market.

“He’s highly respected within the industry and his appointment signals how seriously we are backing our expansion into the New Zealand market,” said Enthoven.

Armstrong is a member, director and past President of ANZIIF, having served on the organisation’s board for nine years. He was also named New Zealand’s Insurance Leader of the Year in 2017 and received the ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award.