Southern Cross Health Society has appointed Jordan Levesque (pictured) as chief legal officer, effective October 23, 2026, as the organisation completes a significant renewal of its senior leadership team.
Levesque replaces Laura Valiant, who held the combined title of general counsel and chief risk officer. Valiant is leaving to take up the role of general counsel and company secretary at ANZ Bank New Zealand, as confirmed in an NZX announcement in August 2026.
In his new role, Levesque will lead the Society’s legal, governance, and remediation functions and provide strategic counsel on regulatory, governance, and commercial matters. He has served as head of legal and governance at Southern Cross, advising both the executive leadership team and board.
Outgoing chief executive Nick Astwick described the appointment in terms of leadership character as much as legal competency. “One of Jordan’s greatest strengths is his ability to bring people together to solve complex challenges. He is an exceptional lawyer, but just as importantly he is a collaborative leader who earns trust through his integrity, pragmatism, and focus on doing what’s right for our members and our business,” Astwick said.
Astwick added: “He has helped strengthen our governance practices, supported major strategic initiatives, and become a trusted adviser to both the executive leadership team and board. I am delighted to appoint Jordan as chief legal officer and look forward to his continued contribution as we deliver on our purpose of enabling healthier lives for New Zealanders.”
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Before joining Southern Cross, Levesque held senior legal and governance roles at Westpac New Zealand and practised law at Chapman Tripp. He holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland, and a Master of Laws from the University of British Columbia.
The CLO appointment is the latest in a series of senior changes at Southern Cross in 2026.
Michael Saunders joined as chief financial officer in March 2026, having previously served as group CFO at Vitality UK, according to the Society’s website. In February 2026, Keren Blakey joined the Health Society board as a non-executive director, bringing more than three decades of experience in governance, audit, and risk, including 18 years as a partner at PwC.
On the CEO front, Astwick announced in February 2026 that he would step down after nearly 10 years in the role, with his final day confirmed as September 30, 2026. Jan O’Keefe, currently chief commercial officer at HBF Health in Australia, was appointed as his successor in July 2026 and starts on February 1, 2027. Southern Cross chair Chris Black said a clear transition plan was in place ahead of O’Keefe joining. Who leads the organisation in the intervening period has not been publicly confirmed.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance took a different structural approach, appointing Sarah Owen as chief risk and legal officer in April 2026, combining the functions the health society has just separated.
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Southern Cross’s most recent published results cover the year ended June 30, 2025. The Society paid out $1.706 billion in claims during that period, up 14% on the prior year, against $1.811 billion in premium income. The health insurance arm posted a $56.9 million deficit, with membership at 951,808, according to figures published on the Society’s FY25 results page.
Astwick attributed the claims volume to sustained pressure on the public health system.
“There is clear evidence our public health system remains under pressure. We’re seeing members of all ages using their policies more than ever to access the private healthcare treatment they need, when they need it,” he said.
FY26 results, covering the year to June 30, 2026, had not been published at the time of writing.
