HBF has announced that its current managing director and CEO, John Van Der Wielen, is stepping down after five years in the role.
HBF Australia’s fifth-largest private health insurer and Western Australia’s biggest health fund.
Mr Van Der Wielen commenced with HBF in 2017. The company said that during his tenure, Mr Van Der Wielen has worked with its board, management and staff to revamp its investment strategy to ensure competitive premiums and high value for its members, expand into allied health services such as dental and physiotherapy, and grow its presence outside of Western Australia to make HBF a leading national brand.
HBF chief transformation officer Simon Walsh will commence as Interim CEO while an executive search process is undertaken for the role.
Chair Diane Smith-Gander said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank John for his valuable contribution to HBF over the past five years and wish him well. Under John’s leadership and with the support of the executive leadership team, HBF has truly established itself as a credible, national health insurance provider whose focus on its members is unrivalled.”
Mr Van Der Wielen said, “I am immensely proud of what our management team and people have achieved at HBF in the past five years. HBF is a unique and progressive not-for-profit organisation. I have been privileged to have been able to lead its national expansion and several exciting new acquisitions. I am also proud that the HBF quokka has now become a well-known brand.”