A Kiwi woman who formerly worked for the Prime Minister's office is at the centre of a scandal involving one of the UK's most powerful insurance giants.
New Zealander Rebekah Clement has been named in a report as the senior staffer involved in an alleged workplace affair with the CEO of Lloyd’s of London.
She previously worked as press secretary for the Governor-General of New Zealand for a number of years.
Clement was promoted at Lloyd's in 2023 to the newly created role of corporate affairs director, reporting directly to then CEO John Neal.
The move put her on the executive committee of the US$35 billion company, overseeing government policy and media relations. Staff later raised concerns about her receiving possible preferential treatment.
According to the Wall Street Journal, an internal probe investigated Neal’s relationship with Clement, who left the company in May.
The Times in London reported the pair were told to stay in separate hotels when travelling together for work.
The newspaper described the affair as "a scandal that has engulfed the insurance market" and reported "both are thought to have denied that they were romantically involved".
Trips to Samoa, NZ
Clement was understood to have joined Neal on his trip to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa in October 2024 alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Neal also allegedly accompanied Clement while she visited her parents in New Zealand to celebrate her birthday before returning to the UK. Lloyd's declined to comment on whether the trip was funded by the company.
The Times said in the latest coverage of the affair this weekend: "Lloyd's leadership will also face questions from the wider insurance sector, given widespread speculation about a relationship between the two and how they often travelled together for work."
The Times and the Wall Street Journal said Neal and Clement did not respond to requests for comment.
Clement had worked at Lloyd's in various roles since 2015.
She was press secretary for Governors-General Sir Anand Satyanand and Sir Jerry Mateparae in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet between October 2009 and June 2013.
Neal's AIG job role pulled
Neal stepped down from Lloyd's in January after accepting a role as president of top insurance company AIG.
But the US insurance giant rescinded its offer to him following the recent investigation, saying he and the company had mutually agreed he would no longer join due to "personal reasons".
It was not the first time Neal’s conduct had come under scrutiny. His bonus was reduced during his time at Australian insurer QBE after he failed to disclose a relationship with his executive assistant.
The collapse of his appointment at AIG reportedly angered staff, who questioned how the deal passed multiple checks before falling at the final hurdle.
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