Hisham El-Ansary will succeed Richard Bowden as the CEO of Bupa Australia and New Zealand in April next year.
Mr El-Ansary is currently the chief financial and strategy officer for the Australia and New Zealand business. He joined the company in 2008.
He has held a variety of roles, including managing director of the Health Services business, and led the company’s move into Dental and Medical Visa Services.
Over the past 30 years, he has held senior executive roles in a variety of industries including retail, energy, aviation and construction.
Mr El-Ansary is a Fellow of CPA Australia and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a director of children’s charity, Very Special Kids.
Mr Bowden will step down after joining the company in 2002 when it acquired AXA Australia Health, where he was managing director.
He has overseen the company’s expansion and growth, including the acquisition of MBF in 2008 and the Australian launch of the Bupa brand in 2011. In 2012, he moved to the UK for four years as chief executive of the company's UK businesses, returning to his native Australia in 2017.
“Richard has made a wonderful contribution to Bupa and will leave a lasting legacy when he retires from Bupa next year," said Bupa Australia and New Zealand chair Nicola Roxon.
“We have known about Richard’s plans for some time and are delighted Hisham has been appointed as his successor.”
She continued, “Hisham’s knowledge of Bupa and of the health and care sector make him ideally equipped to lead Bupa Australia and New Zealand over the next phase of its development. He is a passionate advocate for excellence and for putting customers front and centre, and we look forward to a smooth leadership transition over the coming months.”