Asteron Life New Zealand has made key appointments to its Board and Leadership Team following the recent acquisition by Resolution Life Australasia.
As announced earlier, the insurer will be led by Grant Willis as CEO Asteron Life New Zealand and the business will be overseen by the Asteron Life Board, chaired by Simon Tyler (see: Resolution Life Completes Asteron Acquisition).
The company says key additional appointments to the Leadership Team include Kristy Redfern as Chief Risk Officer, Stefan Azzopardi as Chief Financial Officer and Catherine Henshall as interim Appointed Actuary.
Scott Jensen has also been appointed as Acting Executive Manager, Claims and Customer Solutions pending a recruitment process commencing for the permanent role.
The insurer says Redfern joined Asteron Life in February 2025 as Chief Risk Officer. She brings extensive legal and corporate services experience across Australia, New Zealand and London and most recently held the position of General Counsel and Company Secretary for AIA Australia.
Azzopardi will join as CFO in March 2025. The company says he’s an accomplished senior executive with deep domestic and international experience. His most recent role was CEO of Donaldson Brown Insurance Brokers and prior to that Chief Finance and Risk Officer at Southern Cross Health Society.
Henshall has been appointed as Appointed Actuary while an external search continues for the permanent position.
Asteron Life says Jensen has deep claims experience and has been in senior claims roles with Asteron Life for nearly five years.
The board will be comprised of Independent Directors Rachel Walsh and Julia Raue as well as Directors Tim Tez and Keith Taylor.
Simon Tyler says the appointments “…provide Asteron Life with a robust governance structure and a strong management team to lead the business through this exciting new phase and continue to deliver its strategic growth agenda.”
Willis says Redfern, Azzopardi and Henshall bring a wealth of experience that will bolster the strength and expertise of the existing leadership team, noting it’s great to see Jensen step up to the acting role.
…Our focus remains on our policyholders, people and strong adviser relationships…
“I am very much looking forward to their input as we continue to grow our … business and transition into one of New Zealand’s largest life insurance businesses. Our focus remains on our policyholders, people and strong adviser relationships as we progress our integration.”
Editors Note: Resolution Life Australasia will be combined with Nippon Life’s Australian business, MLC Life, to form a new primary life insurer open to new business, subject to regulatory approvals (see: Resolution Life Bought by Nippon Life).