QBE Insurance regional chief to retire in 2026

• QBE Insurance Group announced the retirement of its Australia Pacific CEO, Sue Houghton, effective at the end of 2026.
• The announcement kept market pricing steady as the executive agreed to maintain her role throughout the upcoming leadership transition.
• The extended notice period is designed to support business continuity while the group conducts a formal search for a successor.

QBE (ASX:QBE) announced that its Australia Pacific CEO, Sue Houghton, will retire at the end of 2026 after leading the regional division for more than five years.

The decision follows an executive career that spans more than 35 years within the financial services sector.

"On behalf of the Board and Executive Leadership Team, I thank Sue for her contribution and leadership and wish her every success in retirement," said QBE Group CEO Andrew Horton.

To preserve operational stability, the company stated that Houghton will remain in her role while a comprehensive search is conducted to find a replacement.

Following the announcement, the QBE share price was unchanged at $24.99.

The insurance group previously delivered a net profit of US$2.15 billion for the 2025 financial year as part of its multi-year operational strategy.

The corporate update comes as the company's equity value fluctuates within a recorded 52-week price range between $25.32 and $35.78.