Stephen Potter has stepped down as chief underwriter at AIA New Zealand after six and a half years in the role.
In a LinkedIn post, Potter wrote that the time felt right to “hang up the lanyard and take a bit of a breather.” He said he was “incredibly grateful for the experiences, the people, and the purpose-driven work we did together. It’s been a role full of learning, laughs, and a few spreadsheets I’d rather forget.”
Potter joined AIA/Sovereign as chief underwriter in January 2019. At the time, then-chief customer officer Sharron-Moana Botica said he was one of the “originals” at Sovereign, having first joined the company in 1989. He later worked for AMP and Fidelity Life before returning to AIA/Sovereign.
In his farewell post, Potter wrote that for now he would be “swapping the office chair for a golf cart and the meeting room for the BBQ pit - working on my short game and slow-cooked brisket (progress on both is… ongoing).”
He also signalled openness to future opportunities. “That said, I’m also starting to think about what’s next. If you know of interesting opportunities or just fancy a chat over a coffee or a round, I’m all ears,” he wrote.
Potter concluded with a message of thanks: “Thanks again to everyone who’s been part of the ride so far - looking forward to whatever comes next.”
AIA New Zealand acknowledged Potter’s departure. In a statement, chief customer officer Maddison Sherlock said Potter leaves behind a “lasting legacy” and that the company was “incredibly grateful” for his contribution. She said the process to appoint his successor is under way.
Potter’s career in personal insurance underwriting spans more than three decades, including leadership roles across several insurers in New Zealand. He first joined Sovereign in 1989 and has worked in both underwriting and management positions.
AIA NZ has not named an interim replacement.
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