By Stuart Condie

SYDNEY--QBE Insurance Ltd. said Chief Executive Pat Regan will leave the Australian insurer after his workplace communications breached the company's ethics and conduct code.

QBE on Tuesday said an external investigation established the breaches, without giving more information. Chairman Mike Wilkins said the board took action in relation to the misconduct.

"The board concluded that he had exercised poor judgment in this regard," Mr. Wilkins said in a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange.

QBE said Mr. Wilkins will become executive chairman while the firm assesses internal and external candidates for a new chief executive.

QBE said it would launch a review of the company's internal culture and create new complaint and support procedures for employees.

Mr. Regan was chief financial officer and led QBE's Australian and New Zealand operation before becoming CEO in 2018. 



  Write to Stuart Condie at stuart.condie@wsj.com