Chris Black appointed Chair of Southern Cross Medical Care Society
Chris Black has been appointed Chair of Southern Cross Medical Care Society (Health Society).
Appointed by the Health Society Board, Black replaces outgoing Chair Murray Jordan, who retired at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday (4 December 2024).
Black joined the Health Society Board in 2021 and was appointed as a Trustee of the Society in December 2023.
Health Society CEO Nick Astwick says, “Already a trusted and well-respected Director of our Board since 2021, we are delighted with Chris’ appointment as Chair.
“Alongside his very relevant experience working with member-based and financial services organisations, Chris has a genuine passion for ensuring all that we do is in the best interests of our members. We look forward to working with Chris in his role as Chair, with our aligned focus on empowering our members to live well for longer.”
Black (CA, DIP. ACC, B. SURV) was Chief Executive of membership-based Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) between 2008 and 2021 and an independent director of FMG prior to this. He was previously a member of the Insurance Council of NZ (ICNZ), including a three-year appointment as the ICNZ President, and was a Commissioner of the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) Scheme and board member of BNZ Life Insurance.
Chris also served as Director on the Board of the International Cooperative & Mutual Insurance Federation for eight years, including as Vice-Chair between 2019 and 2021; and was a Director of Southern Cross Pet Insurance between September 2022 and December 2024. He is currently a Trustee of the Southern Cross Health Trust, Chair of the Natural Hazards Commission and Rabobank New Zealand, and a Trustee of the Mental Health Foundation.
Health Society Chief Executive Nick Astwick acknowledged the contribution of outgoing Chair, Murray Jordan. “On behalf of everyone in our member-led Health Society, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Murray for his outstanding leadership of our Board, and my personal appreciation for his guidance and wisdom while I’ve had the privilege of working with him,” he said.
