Southern Cross Travel Insurance names new Chief Underwriting Officer and Chief Legal and Risk Officer

The insurer has welcomed Anita Samu as Chief Underwriting Officer and Greg Sparling to the role of Chief Legal and Risk Officer to support its New Zealand and Australian operations.

Samu returns to the company in the newly established role of Chief Underwriting Officer, bringing her leadership experience from previous roles at IAG New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand, and Southern Cross Health Society. With nearly 20 years working in the insurance and banking sectors, Samu has held positions in actuarial, finance, product, pricing, and analytics. “I’m passionate about bringing the worlds of finance, data, and analytics into an organisation’s planning and decision-making process,” she said. “To be able to return to Southern Cross and share this passion is very exciting.”

Corporate and financial services lawyer, and governance and risk professional Sparling joins the team as Chief Legal and Risk Officer. This move follows senior leadership roles at Resolution Life (Australia and New Zealand), Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand, and ANZ Bank New Zealand. As well as corporate roles, Sparling has experience within private law practices and the public sector in both New Zealand and the UK. He said: “It’s a privilege to be joining one of New Zealand’s most trusted travel insurers, especially at a time of regeneration for the travel industry.”

Southern Cross Travel Insurance CEO Jo McCauley said: “We’re privileged to welcome Anita and Greg and the wealth of experience they bring to the Southern Cross whānau. Travel is now back in full force and these two appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to investing in capability, to continue to support our customers on their travels.”

According to McCauley, who recognises the challenges faced by the travel industry in recent years, the two new appointments are indicative of a sector shift toward stability and growth.

At last year’s Canstar Travel Insurance Awards, Southern Cross received two awards: an Outstanding Value – International Travel Insurance Award and an Outstanding Value – Seniors’ Travel Insurance Award.