Profile
“Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
Angelo Azar, chief operating officer at Honey Insurance, is a driving force behind the company’s mission to revolutionise the home insurance space in Australia. His inclusion in the Insurance Business Global 100 underscores his significant impact on the industry.
At Honey Insurance, a dynamic start-up leveraging smart technology, Azar oversees a broad spectrum of operations, including sales, service and claims, risk and compliance, enablement and optimisation, product and pricing, people and culture, and Honey’s underwriter relationship. His leadership is pivotal in the company’s commitment to a proactive, customer-centric approach, utilising smart home sensors to help prevent incidents such as fires, water damage, and theft.
This emphasis on preventative measures aims to shift the perception of insurance from a reactive to a beneficial service. Since launching four years ago, Honey Insurance has experienced rapid growth, establishing itself as a key player in the Australian home insurance market through its innovative approach and customer-focused solutions.
Azar’s extensive career spans over two decades, encompassing key executive roles in insurance, banking, and other sectors. Notably, his previous positions include significant responsibilities at Commonwealth Bank, Insurance Australia Group, St. George Bank, The Hollard Insurance Company Australia, Metlife, and BOC. This diverse experience, marked by managing large, complex teams and operations, has equipped him with a deep understanding of customer channels, risk management, and operational excellence.
His philosophy centres on fostering collaborative environments where “everyone can win,” emphasising customer-focused solutions and transparent relationships.
Azar’s leadership at Honey Insurance highlights his commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, making him a standout figure in the global insurance industry.
Bays 1-2, 7-27 Circular Quay West, The Rocks, 2000, Sydney
61481011056
angelo@honeyinsurance.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeloazar
honeyinsurance.com
Angelo Azar
Chief Operating Officer
Honey Insurance
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Milestones
“The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns”
Jack Kuhn
Westfield Specialty
2005–2009
2010
2011–2013
2013–2020
2020–present
Multiple leadership roles at IAG, including the accelerated Leadership Development Program and executive MBA specialising in strategy and finance
Leader of the Year at IAG
2005–
2009
National Contact Centre Sales Manager across retail and business banking at St. George Bank
2010
General management accountability across multiple regions for sales, customer service and
commercial management for Linde Group
Linde Group International Global Talent Circle Inductee
2011–
2013
Executive management responsibility at both Commonwealth Bank and Hollard for General Insurance Operations across multiple brands, functions and distribution channels
Selection in the CommBank Executive Manager Talent Program
2013–
2020
Founding Executive Member for Honey Insurance, a tech-enabled Insurance company, with broad remit including operations, risk and compliance, people and culture, claims, contact centres
Top 10 APAC CX and Contact Centre Executive Influencers
Industry National CX Leader of the Year
Postgraduate qualifications in mathematics, physics, leadership and executive coaching
2020–
present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Kuhn says, “I would say my career has been one of more of chance and opportunities than a set plan. And it’s interesting how one decision has a ripple effect on putting you on a different path than maybe where you thought you would be.”
He highlights his spell at Endurance as his biggest professional achievement to date.
“It took some time, but we took them from really being viewed as a reinsurance company to being viewed as a global insurance company.”
It’s this type of innovative attitude that is powering Westfield Specialty forward so successfully.
Kuhn explains, “Westfield Specialty and I have been trying to make sure we are opportunistic in the marketplace and that has allowed us to grow profitably and create a broader and more diversified portfolio.”
Part of this has seen the firm acquire the existing Lloyd’s of London Syndicate 1200 in February 2023. It is also Kuhn’s ingenuity that has allowed Westfield Specialty to outperform expectations in challenging market conditions.
“I would say it’s been the understanding that there is a limited window of time. We're in this unique market, we need to be fast and decisive to take advantage of market opportunities before the market begins to move away,” he comments. “Additionally, I'd like to say we move with a lot of speed, but we do it in a thoughtful and methodical approach, not just to be the first.”
However, it has been an intricate process to ensure his team are onboard with his vision. Kuhn places importance of explaining his targets and the blueprint to achieve them.
He adds, “The biggest challenge is getting everyone comfortable with the pace that I’m looking for to drive our buildout and growth. How I deal with it is by being open and transparent, and responsive to questions or concerns. This way, everything gets thoroughly discussed and resolved.”
With almost four decades in the industry, Kuhn has developed methods that have consistently delivered. It is why he has been tasked with so many leadership roles and he intends to maintain his focus on creating more success at Westfield Specialty.
“I think I am and have always tried to be methodical. I look at the big picture yet stay focused on executing the different opportunities or plans that I have in front of me. I don’t get emotional or make emotional decisions.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
Kuhn joined Westfield Specialty in the firm’s first year (2021) and has established the company’s presence in the specialty market. By the end of 2023, the firm is expected to surpass $1.3 billion in GWP after writing $300 million in 2021.
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