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 is the chief operating officer at Honey Insurance, a start-up with a mission to revolutionise the home insurance space in Australia. In his role, he oversees the operations teams, handling sales, service and claims, risk and compliance, enablement and optimisation, and Honey’s underwriter relationship with its underwriters. In his most recent previous roles, he was responsible for direct, partner, broker, supply chain, and third-party customer channels and operations for teams of up to 700 people, both onshore and offshore.
Azar’s experience spans various industries, including insurance, banking, engineering, manufacturing, direct marketing television, and fast-moving consumer goods. He has held executive roles at Commonwealth Bank, Insurance Australia Group, St George Bank, Metlife, and BOC.
In his leadership of large, cross-functional teams, Azar has implemented management initiatives across multiple businesses of up to 700 FTE, resulting in improvements of up to 78% in sales, 40% in sales conversion, 83% in productivity, 74% in the net promoter score/customer advocacy, and more than 200% in employee engagement within an initial 12-month period, sustained and continually improving through his tenure.
Bays 1 and 2, 7-27 Circular Quay West, The Rocks, NSW 2000
0481 011 056
angelo@honeyinsurance.com
linkedin.com/in/angeloazar
honeyinsurance.com
Angelo Azar
Chief Operating Officer
Honey Insurance
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Bio
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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
2004–2008
2009–2010
2011–2020
2021
Present
2004: Sales and Service Consultant at IAG
2005–2008: Led various distribution channels such as contact centres and branches at IAG
2004–
2008
2009: Pricing and underwriting
2010: Led national contact centre sales at St George for retail and business customers
2009–
2010
2011: Launched Metlife contact centre
2013–2017: Led all general insurance operations for CommInsure
2017–2020: Led all general insurance operations for Hollard
2011–
2020
Joined Honey Insurance as a founding executive
2021
Received various accolades in his career, such as IAG Leader of the Year across all divisions early in his leadership career and runner-up for the Australian Institute of Management Young Manager of the Year
Participated in various international leadership scholarships and programs, including at London Business School and national Diversity and Inclusion Leadership awards
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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