Howden New Zealand has named Chris Hughes as its Chief Executive Officer, effective November 2025, the firm announced on Tuesday.
Hughes succeeds Nigel Wallace, who will step up to the role of Chair of Howden’s broking business in New Zealand after serving as CEO for almost two years. He moves from IAG-NZI, where he spent nearly four years, including most recently as Executive Manager for Broker Distribution and Specialty, based out of Auckland.
Hughes brings more than three decades of experience in insurance and operations, having held senior roles at companies such as Rothbury Insurance Brokers, Steadfast NZ, and Chambers & Newman.
In its press release, Howden stated, “His expertise in the New Zealand insurance industry, proven focus, and delivery through innovation and growth position him well to lead Howden as it continues to expand in the Pacific region.”
Matt Bacon, Howden Pacific CEO, welcomed the appointment, saying: “We have taken our time to find the right person for this role, and we believe that Chris will provide the leadership Howden needs to continue its growth strategy in New Zealand and the Pacific region.”
“I want to personally thank Nigel for his leadership and support since taking the CEO role, which oversaw significant growth for Howden in New Zealand,” Bacon added.
This August, Howden has named several key personnel hires across its Asia Pacific business: Raymond Law as Sales Director for Hong Kong, Capt. Hari Subramaniam as Chief Commercial Officer for Marine, Cargo, and Logistics for Asia, as well as Mervyn Rea as Head of Risk Engineering for ANZ.
