The QBE Insurance Group board has elected Mike Wilkins to succeed Marty Becker as group chair from March 1, after retiring from the AMP Ltd board.

Wilkins served on the AMP board from 2016, including as interim executive chair in 2018, after the then AMP chair Catherine Brenner resigned following damning evidence at the financial services royal commission of company staff’s misconduct.

He will serve on the AMP Life board until the sale of the business to Resolution Life, which is expected by June 30.

Michael Sammells has been appointed AMP non-executive director. He is at present a non-executive director on the Sigma Healthcare Ltd board.

Wilkins joined QBE as non-executive director in 2016. He was previously MD and CEO of IAG. He said it was an “enormous” privilege to be elected to the QBE group chair role.

Becker said after seven years, the time was right for him to step down and for a new chair to “bring fresh ideas and perspectives to QBE”.