Suncorp names new Chair

Suncorp Group has announced the appointment of Christine McLoughlin as its new chair, effective September 2018, following the group's annual general meeting.

McLoughlin, who has been a member of the board since 2015, will replace outgoing chair Ziggy Switkowski.

McLoughlin began her career as a commercial lawyer and has business experience in Australia, the UK, New Zealand and South East Asia, holding senior executive roles in both the financial services and telecommunications sectors. Her current directorships include nib and the not-for-profit, McGrath Foundation. She is also currently chair of Venues New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's director advisory panel.

Commenting on her appointment as Suncorp chair, Switkowski said: "I am delighted with the Board's selection of Christine as the next Chairman. In her three years on the Board, Christine has demonstrated a broad range of skills relevant to financial services. This includes having an informed view with regards to innovation and the disruption of traditional business models, as well as bringing a contemporary focus to governance processes within the Group."

McLoughlin added: "It is an honour to be appointed as the next Chairman. It continues to be a time of great change, and some stresses, for financial institutions, and I look forward to embracing both the opportunities and challenges this brings."