Fidelity Life has announced several key appointments and team changes which the company says reinforce its ongoing commitment to build strong adviser relationships.
The firm’s Chief Commercial Officer Bronwyn Kirwan says the changes reflect its aim to refine its focus areas and provide appropriate support to advisers.
Craig Wagstaff is the new Head of Individual Life, starting 9 June. He steps into the role following the promotion of David Winspear to Chief Operating Officer and will report directly to Kirwan.
Wagstaff’s career includes serving as Head of ASB Partnership, Head of New Business Operations and Integration Business Lead at AIA / Sovereign, and most recently holding the executive position of Group General Manager Franchise, Brand and Marketing at NZHL.
He will lead all aspects of Fidelity Life’s distribution strategy and channel performance for advisers, strategic alliances, bancassurance, and digital partners.
Simon Millward has returned to the firm to take up the newly created role of National Partnerships Manager – Corporate and Growth.
He was formerly Fidelity Life’s Head of Service Excellence, overseeing adviser onboarding, customer value and retention, customer advocacy and complaint resolution, and quality assurance. Prior to this role, he also headed up the company’s group insurance portfolio.
In his new role, Millward will manage a portfolio of intermediary partnerships at regional and national levels while driving growth through new relationships.
Fidelity Life has also made changes across its adviser-facing distribution team, welcoming Sam Paterson as Business Manager for the Canterbury and Marlborough region, starting this month.
Paterson comes from Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) where she had a 13-year career, starting out as an Insurance Consultant and working her way up to become Area Manager for the Canterbury region.
In other news, Business Managers Peter Warfield and Kirsty Michell have been promoted to Senior Business Managers.
Effective 30 June, Fidelity Life will farewell Auckland Business Manager Kenny Kaushish as he becomes a financial adviser. A search for a new Auckland Business Manager has commenced.
A new role for Group Business Manager has also been introduced. Rhys Knight, who joins from Suncorp New Zealand has been appointed to the role having held roles as a Group Life BDM, Partner Development Manager, and more recently as Manager of Digital Customer Support and Business Solutions.
Reporting to Anita Los’e, Head of Group Insurance, Knight will drive increased client engagement and digital innovation while supporting Fidelity Life’s growing group insurance portfolio.
“This appointment enables Fidelity Life to better support group advisers and provide more protection for employees across New Zealand,” says Kirwan.
“These team changes and updates underscore our dedication to driving improvements and delivering meaningful benefits to both our advisers and customers.”