Two firms have announced senior appointments across claims management, compliance, and legal practices.
Sure Insurance has appointed Jan Wiid as head of claims and Christine Bryant (pictured) as risk and compliance manager. Meanwhile, law firm Sparke Helmore has promoted Vanessa Finlayson and Alexandra Woodland to partner, alongside three promotions in its Melbourne office, effective Jan. 1.
Wiid brings more than 20 years of claims and leadership experience to Sure Insurance. He previously held management roles with Allianz, IAG, CGU, NRMA, SGIC, SGIO, and Bohai Property Insurance in China, according to the company. He has worked with teams exceeding 600 people across Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, and India.
Wiid has restructured insurance operations teams across Australia. He also managed a risk mitigation program during the 2011 Brisbane floods. Before joining Sure Insurance, he served as regional general manager of insurance operations for Australia and New Zealand with Allianz partners.
Bryant served on the corporate executive leadership team of Austbrokers Corporate Pty Ltd from 2015, according to Sure Insurance. Her roles included compliance and operations manager, general manager of business improvement, and head of operations.
She managed operational and compliance reporting to the board of Austbrokers Corporate, a company owned by ASX-listed AUB Group. Her responsibilities included policy development and implementation, business integration, and audit functions.
Note: This report was based on a Press release. However, Sure Insurance has since confirmed that Wiid left the business in January.
At Sparke Helmore, Finlayson specialises in compulsory third party litigation. She advises on risk and exposure, with a focus on negotiation strategies, early resolution, medical disputes, section 151z recoveries, multi-party insurance disputes, and fraud claims, the firm said. She is an accredited specialist in personal injury and also advises Commonwealth agencies on statutory interpretation and administrative law issues.
Woodland primarily works in workers’ compensation, advising the state statutory authority and claims agents on matters relating to South Australian workers’ compensation legislation. She provides advice on claims management issues and manages disputes from alternative dispute resolution through to litigation.
Ashley Sherr, meanwhile, has been promoted to special counsel. Madeline Coats and Jesse Slankard have been promoted to senior associate.
