Southern Cross Health Society Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

Southern Cross Health Society has 8 executives leading key functions including strategy, pet insurance, travel insurance, operations, marketing, finance, and medical oversight.

Committed to enhancing member wellbeing, Southern Cross Health Society delivers comprehensive insurance solutions and healthcare services across New Zealand to ensure accessible, high-quality care for all members.

Leadership Roles at Southern Cross Health Society

  • Chief Executive Officer - Nick Astwick
  • Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance - Anthony McPhail
  • Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance - Carole Tokody
  • Interim Chief Financial Officer - Renate Swart
  • Chief Operating Officer - Andrea Brunner
  • Acting Chief Operating Officer - Jeanette Kini
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Christopher Watney
  • Chief Medical Officer - Stephen Child
  • Nick Astwick - Chief Executive Officer

    Nick Astwick, the Chief Executive Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, directs the overarching strategic vision for the organization. Astwick manages the alignment of health, travel, life, and pet insurance portfolios to maintain market leadership within New Zealand. By coordinating with the Board, the Chief Executive Officer ensures the not-for-profit mission remains central to all operational decisions. Nick Astwick drives long-term sustainability through prudent resource allocation and member-focused initiatives. This leadership role involves navigating complex regulatory environments while expanding the national network of healthcare services. Through rigorous oversight of corporate governance, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of transparency and excellence. Astwick prioritizes the delivery of value to members, ensuring that the society remains a cornerstone of the national healthcare landscape. Ultimately, the Chief Executive Officer secures the financial health and operational integrity of the entire organization.

    Anthony McPhail - Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance

    Anthony McPhail, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance at Southern Cross Health Society, architects the growth strategy for the pet insurance division. McPhail oversees product development and market penetration to provide comprehensive coverage for domestic animals across New Zealand. By analyzing pet health trends, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance optimizes underwriting processes to balance risk and affordability. Anthony McPhail drives customer engagement through digital platforms, ensuring seamless claims processing and policy management. This leadership role involves collaborating with veterinary networks to enhance service delivery standards. Through targeted marketing campaigns, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance expands the member base while maintaining high satisfaction levels. McPhail monitors competitive dynamics to refine service offerings, ensuring the division remains a leader in the pet insurance sector. Ultimately, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance secures the long-term viability of the pet insurance portfolio.

    Carole Tokody - Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance

    Carole Tokody, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance at Southern Cross Health Society, directs the strategic operations for the travel insurance business unit. Tokody manages risk assessment and policy innovation to support travelers across international and domestic markets. By leveraging data analytics, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance identifies emerging travel risks and adjusts coverage parameters accordingly. Carole Tokody drives operational efficiency by streamlining the claims experience for members navigating unexpected medical or travel disruptions. This leadership role involves maintaining strong partnerships with global assistance providers to ensure rapid support for policyholders. Through proactive market analysis, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance strengthens the competitive position of the travel insurance brand. Tokody oversees the integration of digital tools to enhance user accessibility and service speed. Ultimately, the Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance ensures robust protection for members during travel.

    Renate Swart - Interim Chief Financial Officer

    Renate Swart, the Interim Chief Financial Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, directs the financial planning, reporting, and capital management functions. Swart oversees the fiscal health of the organization, ensuring that insurance reserves and investment strategies support long-term stability. By managing financial risk, the Interim Chief Financial Officer provides the necessary oversight to maintain the society's not-for-profit financial integrity. Renate Swart drives the budgeting process and monitors expenditure across all business units, including health, travel, and pet insurance. This leadership role involves reporting financial performance to the Board and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Through meticulous analysis of financial data, the Interim Chief Financial Officer supports strategic decision-making regarding resource allocation and growth investments. Swart coordinates with external auditors and internal stakeholders to maintain transparent financial practices. Ultimately, the Interim Chief Financial Officer secures the financial foundation that enables the society to fulfill its mission of providing accessible healthcare.

    Andrea Brunner - Chief Operating Officer

    Andrea Brunner, the Chief Operating Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, executes the internal operational strategy to support the organization's diverse insurance and healthcare service lines. Brunner oversees the efficiency of core business processes, ensuring that administrative functions align with the broader mission of member care. By optimizing internal workflows, the Chief Operating Officer enhances the delivery of health and life insurance services across the national network. Andrea Brunner drives cross-departmental collaboration to improve service quality and operational agility. This leadership role involves managing infrastructure investments that support scalable growth and digital transformation. Through rigorous performance monitoring, the Chief Operating Officer identifies bottlenecks and implements solutions to maintain high service standards. Brunner coordinates with other C-suite leaders to ensure that operational capacity meets the evolving needs of the membership. Ultimately, the Chief Operating Officer secures the operational foundation required for the society to deliver consistent value to all members.
    Andrea Brunner

    Jeanette Kini - Acting Chief Operating Officer

    Jeanette Kini, the Acting Chief Operating Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, manages the day-to-day execution of healthcare service delivery and member support operations. Kini oversees the logistics of the national network of healthcare services, ensuring that members receive timely and effective care. By focusing on service quality, the Acting Chief Operating Officer drives improvements in member experience and operational responsiveness. Jeanette Kini coordinates with clinical and administrative teams to optimize the delivery of health insurance benefits. This leadership role involves managing the operational transition of new service initiatives and ensuring that internal systems support high-volume member interactions. Through continuous process improvement, the Acting Chief Operating Officer enhances the efficiency of the healthcare service network. Kini monitors operational metrics to ensure that service delivery remains consistent with the society's standards. Ultimately, the Acting Chief Operating Officer secures the operational excellence required to support the health and wellbeing of the membership.

    Christopher Watney - Chief Marketing Officer

    Christopher Watney, the Chief Marketing Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, architects the brand strategy and market positioning for the entire organization. Watney oversees all communication channels, ensuring that the value proposition of health, travel, life, and pet insurance resonates with the New Zealand public. By analyzing consumer behavior, the Chief Marketing Officer drives targeted campaigns that increase member acquisition and retention. Christopher Watney manages the brand identity to reflect the not-for-profit status and commitment to member wellbeing. This leadership role involves coordinating with product teams to launch new insurance offerings and service enhancements. Through data-driven marketing initiatives, the Chief Marketing Officer optimizes the customer journey across digital and physical touchpoints. Watney monitors market trends to adjust messaging and maintain a competitive edge in the insurance sector. Ultimately, the Chief Marketing Officer secures the brand's reputation as a trusted provider of healthcare and insurance solutions.

    Stephen Child - Chief Medical Officer

    Stephen Child, the Chief Medical Officer at Southern Cross Health Society, directs the clinical strategy and medical governance for the organization. Child oversees the quality of healthcare services provided within the national network, ensuring that clinical standards meet the highest benchmarks. By evaluating medical technologies and treatment protocols, the Chief Medical Officer drives evidence-based decision-making across all health insurance offerings. Stephen Child manages relationships with medical professionals and healthcare providers to ensure that members access high-quality care. This leadership role involves advising the executive team on health policy trends and the clinical implications of insurance coverage decisions. Through clinical oversight, the Chief Medical Officer ensures that the society's services remain aligned with the evolving needs of the New Zealand healthcare system. Child monitors clinical outcomes to improve the effectiveness of health insurance benefits. Ultimately, the Chief Medical Officer secures the clinical integrity and quality of the healthcare services provided to members.
    Stephen Child

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Southern Cross Health Society Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Southern Cross Health Society?
    Southern Cross Health Society is led by Nick Astwick (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Anthony McPhail (Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance) and Carole Tokody (Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance).
    Who is part of Southern Cross Health Society’s executive team?
    The executive team of Southern Cross Health Society includes leaders such as Nick Astwick (Chief Executive Officer), Anthony McPhail (Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance), Carole Tokody (Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Southern Cross Health Society have?
    Southern Cross Health Society has 8 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Southern Cross Health Society’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Southern Cross Health Society includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Pet Insurance, Chief Executive Officer - Southern Cross Travel Insurance, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer.