Zurich, NAB, MetLife, ANZIIF and AIA New Zealand have all made appointment announcements in the past week.
Zurich
Zurich has promoted two key members of its Distribution team, elevating Kevin Canning to National Strategic Account Manager, and Nathan Taggart to the role of Strategic Account Manager, Life Risk.
Mr Canning has worked for the past three years at Zurich as Strategic Account Manager, and has also held senior roles with AMP, Millennium3 and ING Australian (now ANZ Wealth). He has been in the financial services industry for nearly 30 years.
Mr Taggart has worked in financial services for more than eight years, as both a financial planner and in various business development roles.
Kristine Brooks, Head of Distribution at Zurich, said the appointments reflected the organisation’s commitment to developing and retaining talent.
“Both Kevin and Nathan have a fantastic track record in forging strong relationships and driving results for Zurich and the important partners we work with,” Ms Brooks said.
“With this enhanced team in place, we believe we have a dynamic proposition for how we service our dealer groups in market. Complemented by our award-winning product proposition, this service model provides us with exciting and significant opportunities to strengthen these partnerships even further.”
NAB
NAB has confirmed that it has appointed a new General Manager for dealer group Godfrey Pembroke.
Alan Logan, who has held a number of senior licensee roles, including General Manager Apogee, will now be the Responsible Manager for Godfrey Pembroke, which has more than 170 financial planners Australia-wide. Mr Logan has spent the last four years assisting a range of businesses with advice, commercial and operational issues as a financial services specialist.
NAB Wealth General Manager Advice Partnerships, Ross Barnwell, said: “We are delighted to have someone of Alan’s experience on board to lead Godfrey Pembroke. With more than 23 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Alan is well equipped to lead a business that specialises in providing tailored financial advice to individuals, small businesses and corporations.”
MetLife
MetLife Insurance has increased its Australian team by 25 since the start of 2015.
Among the most recent key appointments are:
- Jeremy Simmons, Head of Operations and Service Delivery
- Joshua McKenzie, Direct Contact Centre Manager
- Matthew O’Halloran, Head of IT Infrastructure
- Oliver Johnston, Head of Business Intelligence and Data Governance
- Aaron Fuller, Head of Data and Digital
MetLife Australia CEO, Deanne Stewart, said the new additions to the team represented the insurer’s focus on improving its digital and data capabilities, as well as drive key improvements to benefit MetLife’s superannuation fund clients and their members.
“Our clients and customers are at the centre of everything we do at MetLife. Our new team members ensure we are in the best possible position to face the industry challenges ahead and capture new opportunities, while all the time improving service to customers,” Ms Stewart said.
ANZIIF
The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has appointed a new President and welcomed a number of new Board members.
IAG New Zealand’s Chief Risk Officer, Karl Armstrong, is the new ANZIIF Board President, making him the first Kiwi to be appointed to the role.
In addition, five new directors from across the insurance sector have been welcomed to the ANZIIF Board:
- Megan Beer, Director Insurance, AMP
- Andrew Bart, CEO, Crawford & Company Australia
- Allan Reynolds, Executive General Manager, Steadfast Group
- Callan McDonnell, Executive Manager, Commercial Insurance Learning and Development, Suncorp
- Daniel Fogarty, CEO, Zurich Australia and New Zealand
“This is a critical time for the industry,” said Ms Beer.
“Education, professionalism and community engagement are integral to re-shaping the industry. Insurance and risk professionals can play a unique role in this transformation by enhancing their skills and experience, and I look forward to continuing the good progress ANZIIF has made in these areas.”
Carmen Keller, previously of Swiss Re, and Pauline Blight-Johnston of AMP stepped down from the Board after several years of service.
AIA New Zealand
AIA Australia’s former Chief Group Insurance Officer, Natalie Cameron, has been appointed as the new CEO of AIA New Zealand.
Ms Cameron will commence in her new role on 8 June, taking over from Wayne Besant, who is leaving the New Zealand business to take up the CEO position for AIA Vietnam.
Ms Cameron has been with AIA Australia since 2005, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2012 and Chief Group Insurance Officer in 2014.
AIA Australia’s CEO, Damien Mu, said: “This appointment is a fantastic recognition of the exceptional leadership and operational skills that Natalie has picked up over the last 10 years at AIA Australia. We pride ourselves in having a culture that supports career development, and this is a great example of the depth of talent we have. I wish her the best of luck in the new role, and am confident the strong bond with the team in New Zealand will continue.”
While a permanent replacement is sourced for Ms Cameron’s previous role, Stephanie Phillips, current Head of Group Distribution, will assume the interim Chief Group Insurance Officer role at AIA Australia.
