Turners announces new executives

Financial services provider Turners Limited has announced a number of changes to its leadership team in a statement on Tuesday. The four divisions of the company – automotive retail, debt management, insurance and finance – are supported by a number of executives at group level. The most significant appointment is Aaron Saunders, current COO of Turners Cars, to group CFO of Turners Limited. He will transition to the new role at the beginning of the financial year in April. Saunders is also the former CFO of Turners Auctions. New group managers have also been appointed over the company’s four divisions. Current general manager of Turners Finance, Dion Jones, will take on the role as group general manager of finance. Turners noted his “excellent experience in intermediated finance business and the more traditional banking and insurance markets.” James Searle, who has been managing the DPL Insurane branch for the past five years, is appointed as group general manager of insurance. Searle was a manager behind the purchase of the warranty brand Autosure last December for $34 million, and has a long career history at insurers Lumley and IAG prior to joining Turner Limited. Turners Limited CEO Todd Hunter said he was pleased to have filled the senior management roles internally. "The Turners group of companies continues to grow, and these new appointments provide further depth to our senior leadership team,” he said. Shares in Turners Limited remained static yesterday at $3.79, with the leadership announcement made shortly before close of trade.   Recruitment for the new CEO of Turners Automotive Retail (responsible for Turners Group NZ and Buy Right Cars), overseen by Hunter, will commence shortly.