QBE Insurance Group today announced that John Neal, Group chief executive officer, will be stepping down after five years in the role. The board of directors has appointed Patrick Regan, chief executive officer Australian and New Zealand operations and previously Group chief financial officer, to succeed Neal as Group CEO.

Neal helped turn around the insurer during his tenure, but in recent months became mired in scandal over an affair with his secretary that was not properly disclosed as part of QBE’s code of conduct.

Regan will succeed Neal on January 1, 2018. Regan will remain on the board as an executive director.

The company said it has undertaken a “detailed succession planning process over the last two years, and has carried out an internal and external candidate review process for this appointment.”

Neal began with the company in QBE’s European Operations in 2003 and moved to Sydney in 2011 as CEO, Global Underwriting Operations. He was appointed to the role of Group CEO in 2012, replacing long-time Group CEO Frank O’Halloran.

As Group CEO, Neal embarked on a successful turnaround strategy for the insurer, which had been dealing with write-downs in North America and rising claims in Latin America. He changed the management team, including bringing on Pat Regan, and led efforts to improve underwriting standards, sell non-core businesses, raise capital and improve reserving.

In 2014, QBE returned to profitability on improved North American results.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely thank John Neal for his dedication and leadership of QBE over the last five years. John has led the business through a significant transformation and a challenging period in the insurance industry globally and has been working closely with the Board to ensure a smooth transition for his succession,” QBE Group Chairman Marty Becker said in prepared remarks.

“The code of conduct is very clear in the expectations it sets. The board felt I was not completely in compliance with that code of conduct and hence the decision was taken to cut an amount of my STI [short-term incentive],” Neal acknowledged during a press conference in February called to highlight what were strong financial results for QBE in 2016.

The company’s 2016 annual report included this statement: “The group CEO has had a commendable year and delivered a strong full-year result for QBE. His performance is well regarded by the board. However, both parties agree some recent personal decisions by the CEO have been inconsistent with the board’s expectations. Therefore, the board has decided that his 2016 STI will be reduced by 20 percent [to A$2,210,117, or US$1.7 million].

His total remuneration for 2016, even with the reduced STI, was just over A$3 million [US$2.3 million].

Regan’s Career to Date

Neal’s successor, Regan, joined QBE in 2014 as Group CFO and was appointed to the role of CEO, Australian and Zealand Operations, in August 2016. Prior to joining QBE he was the CFO at Aviva in London (2010 to 2014), Group chief operating officer and CFO at Willis Group Holdings (2006–2010), Group financial controller at Royal & Sun Alliance (2004–2006) and AXA SA’s Finance and Claims director for the UK General Insurance business (2001–2004).

Regan has also held senior positions at GE Capital Bank, GE Global Consumer Finance and Grant Thornton.

“In the last 12 months, Pat has led a strong turnaround in the Australian and New Zealand Operations highlighting his operational skills and business acumen and, in his previous role as Group Chief Financial Officer, had been pivotal in stabilising the balance sheet and enhancing the Group’s capital management,” said Becker.

He also discussed his management style. Rather than micromanaging, he lets his team of professionals around the globe do what they do best because they “know how to do their jobs 100 times better than I could.” While he makes sure they’re on track and have the help they need, he lets them fulfill their goals without hand holding.

*This story appeared previously in our sister publication Insurance Journal.