Setanta Insurance chief executive Mike Matthews has announced he is leaving the insurer because investors failed to back his plans to grow the business within Ireland and internationally.

Matthews is returning full-time to Sevitt Consulting, the insurance consulting business appointed five years ago to establish and launch Setanta Insurance into the Irish market.

Matthews has been at the helm of Setanta Insurance since the company began trading in October 2007.

Matthews said: "It has become increasingly apparent during the past year or so that the aspirations of the majority shareholders were at odds with the vision I held for Setanta Insurance.

"Having established an extremely successful brand in the Irish insurance market, I wanted to pursue a strategy of continued investment in the business in order to grow its market share in Ireland and to expand internationally."

He added: "While it is hugely disappointing not to be able to continue taking Setanta Insurance forward within Ireland and internationally, I will now be concentrating on a number of exciting new projects with Sevitt Consulting."