New Zealand Earthquake Commission CEO David Middleton has announced his departure after 17 years in the role.

“For personal and business reasons, now is a good time to be handing over to a new CEO,” he said last week.

The commission will begin scouting for his successor this month and expects to name a replacement by the end of the year.

The state-owned Earthquake Commission provides natural disaster insurance to NZ homeowners and is funded by a levy on domestic insurance policies.