HBF managing director Mike Gurry today announced his plans to retire from the company within the next 12 months.
HBF managing director Mike Gurry today announced his plans to retire from the company within the next 12 months.
HBF chairman Harvey Collins said Mr Gurry's departure date would depend on a handover process with a successor.
"The board wishes to ensure a smooth transition and is currently undertaking a selection process and we expect to announce a successor over the next two months," he said.
"Today's announcement is part of a strategic succession plan in which Mike Gurry will undertake a significant handover period to ensure a smooth and orderly transition with a successor.
"The transition will occur against a background where HBF is a strong and diversified organisation with its heart in health insurance and well positioned for the future.
"We have a very capable and committed board and management team in place and I am confident we will build on HBF's success, while maintaining our core values and people-oriented culture."
Since he took over at HBF in 1995, Mr Gurry has spearheaded HBF's diversification to provide the organisation with alternative income streams.
Central to this strategy has been the desire to keep health insurance premium increases to a minimum and counter the impact of growing health costs and the ageing population.
Mr Collins said Mike Gurry had made a major contribution to the organisation and he would be missed when he retired from HBF.
"Over the past 11 years, he has overseen considerable change at HBF, which has significantly upgraded all aspects of the organisation," he said.
Mr Gurry said one of his greatest satisfactions was that significant change had occurred within the organisation without it losing its unique, people-oriented culture and, at the same time, improving HBF's caring service approach.
After retiring from HBF, Mr Gurry plans to focus on professional directorships and consultancy work, utilising his experience in the health and insurance industries, especially in managing organisational diversification, regulatory environments, government relations and leadership. He also plans to expand his charity work.
HBF is a WA-based not-for-profit mutual organisation with nearly 900,000 members.
It is the largest health insurer in WA and has successful general insurance and financial planning businesses.
