A new board Chair has been announced today for Accuro, the not-for-profit Kiwi health insurer which celebrated its 50th year in 2021. Marion Guy has moved up to Chair from Deputy Chair, elected by the board to replace Tony Haycock, who is retiring after having been a Director for nine years and Chair for the last five. Experienced governance and risk practitioner Richard Kirkland has also been appointed as a new Director.
“The last nine years has been a very rewarding journey,” says Tony Haycock. “I am leaving Accuro at a time when it is in great shape. We have carved out a strong point of difference and continue to innovate. Membership has grown above industry norms, based on great service and a desire to always do the best for our members; something which is reflected in our consistently high levels of customer satisfaction.”
Marion Guy, a registered nurse with three decades of health sector and governance experience, has been on the board since 2016. “It’s an exciting time to be leading New Zealand’s best little health insurer, as we continue to implement new initiatives and technology to deliver even higher levels of member service and face the challenges ahead.”
Richard Kirkland has been appointed to fill the vacancy left by Tony. He brings considerable experience in technical and regulatory aspects of insurance and finance. “I am delighted to be involved as I am a big believer in the members ownership of Accuro. The ‘client first’ as a distinct foundation gives mutuals a significant edge over shareholder owned businesses.”
With a mix of medical, financial services and governance experience on the board, Marion Guy says it has an excellent blend of expertise to steer the health insurer into the future. “Accuro staff have worked incredibly well through Covid lockdowns, which continue to impact the medical treatment plans for some of our members,” she said. “The board is looking forward to working with the team as Accuro develops its new IT system and addresses complex issues such as cyber resilience and regulatory changes within the financial services industry.”
