Bupa UK Insurance has appointed Chris Carroll as chief executive officer, joining from Bupa Health Insurance Australia where he is managing director.
Carroll’s appointment is subject to regulatory approval with a January 2025 start date. He will move from Australia to the UK in autumn 2024, the insurer added.
Richard Washington was appointed general manager for Bupa UK Insurance on an interim basis in May following former CEO Alex Perry’s departure ahead of a move to Nuffield Health.
Reporting to Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO for Bupa Global, India & UK, Carroll will lead the insurer’s consumer and business insurance segments in the UK.
He joins from Bupa’s health insurance business in Australia, having been managing director from March 2022. Prior to this he was director for domestic retail portfolio having joined in November 2020.
Under his stewardship, the insurer said it grew to more than 4.4 million customers in Australia following seven consecutive quarters of growth with a market share of 25.41%.
The firm added he had helped to launch Blua and Connected Care in Australia, delivered a range of new insurance products, and worked in partnership with it’s Australian dental business to provide increased value to health insurance members.
Before joining Bupa, Carroll (pictured) was CEO for WS Audiology – Asia Pacific, and led the transformation agenda for Medibank, another major health insurer in Australia.
The insurer added that Kate Williams, who is currently director of domestic retail portfolio health insurance will be appointed as acting managing director of health insurance Australia, filling Carrol’s position.
Carlos Jaureguizar, CEO for Bupa Global, India and UK, said: “Chris is a respected global leader with extensive experience in delivering world-class customer service and driving consumer and commercial growth.
“With Chris’ leadership, we are committed to driving forward our transformation agenda, delivering high quality care and fulfilling our purpose of helping people to live longer, healthier, happier lives.”
Carroll added he was delighted to take on the role with it being an exciting opportunity with its insurance and provider operations.