AMA Group has appointed Paul Ruiz and Kyle Loades as Independent Non-Executive Directors. Ruiz joined the board on 17 May while Loades joined on 24 May. Ruiz also became a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
AMA described Ruiz as a “highly regarded and well-respected professional” with a 30-year career at KPMG, including as a senior partner specialising in the insurance and financial services sectors. Ruiz held senior roles at KPMG Australia and Asia Pacific, and was also Risk Management Partner for NSW.
“Paul’s management and leadership skills which include insurance and risk management, business start-ups, mergers and acquisitions and capital raisings will no doubt be an asset to the AMA business,” AMA Group said in a statement. “His breadth of experience in the financial services sector extends to government, NGOs and the health and insurance sectors, and his industry experience includes manufacturing and motor industries.”
Ruiz currently serves as a non-executive director of Dai-ichi Life Australia/TAL Life, along with the Fred Hollows Foundation and its controlled entity Alina Vision. He is also Chair of the Audit Committee for Dai-ichi Life Australia/TAL Life and serves on the Audit & Risk Committee of several NSW Government organisations.
In addition, Ruiz is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the Risk Management Institute of Australia, and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. He also holds a BSc Economics.
AMA said Loades is “a seasoned non-executive director and advisory board member” with more than two decades of board experience in a broad range of industry sectors, including financial services, automotive, mobility, transport, infrastructure emergency services, and technology.
“Kyle brings deep experience in developing and [implementing] transformational growth strategies that will complement AMA’s growth ambitions. Most notably he was recently chairman of the NRMA where he led a significant and successful operational and cultural transformation of the business,” said AMA.
Loades currently serves as Independent Chair of Local Government Super, Non-Executive Director of Credit Union Australia, and Non-Executive Chair of Hunter Medical Research Institute. He holds an MBA from the University of Newcastle and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of Transformational Leadership – AUSTTA. Loades is also a conjoint professor of the Faculty of Business & Law at the University of Newcastle.
AMA Chairman Anthony Day said the appointments of Ruiz and Loades followed a thorough recruitment process aimed at enhancing the diversity of skills and expertise of the board.
“We are confident that the combined experience, expertise and industry knowledge of both Paul and Kyle will add significant value to the board well into the future,” said Day.