AA Insurance boss retiring

Chris Curtin is stepping down as chief executive of AA Insurance after 28 years at the helm of the company, which he joined in 1995 shortly after its launch.

He has announced he will retire at the end of this year and the company’s board has begun the search for his replacement. 

Curtin, pictured, was general manager of AA Insurance until 2002 when he became chief executive. During his tenure, the business has grown from being a start-up venture to one that now employs more than 1,000 people and provides more than one million policies to about 500,000 New Zealanders.

Doug McTaggart, chairman, says: “Chris has built this company from the ground up and his imprint on this business speaks for itself. 

“Under his leadership, AA Insurance has consistently achieved outstanding results and exceeded expectations, and now dominates a vast array of independent industry awards and honours.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I wish to thank Chris for his hard work and dedication over the years, and to acknowledge his unique ability to inspire others to go above and beyond. 

“We have been extraordinarily lucky to have Chris lead our business for so long. We will miss him and wish him and his family all the very best for his retirement.”

Curtin, who started his career with GIO Australia in Sydney, says it was a difficult decision to leave AA Insurance but he feels the time is right to hand over control to the next generation of leaders.

“It’s been an honour to lead our talented leadership team and work alongside so many others who share my passion for creating outstanding customer experiences and building a team culture that genuinely empowers our people to thrive.

“After 28 years, I will undoubtedly miss the people and the company we built together, but I’m equally as excited to see our remarkable team drive our brand and business forward.”