AIA New Zealand has announced a number of BDM and other senior appointments as part of a move to a new regional management structure within its distribution support network.
Anna Schubert, who headed Sovereign’s retail distribution function, has been appointed as the (now combined)ninsurer’s Head of IFA and Group Insurance Distribution.
Aaron Baker, who has worked in the life insurance industry for 19 years, including ten as an adviser, has been appointed as AIA NZ’s Strategic Accounts Manager, reporting to Schubert. His role is to work with and support AIA’s Strategic Accounts as the industry transitions into a Financial Advice Provider environment.
Meanwhile, three regional managers have been appointed in what AIA describes as “…a move to strengthen and expand the reach of the team.”
Regional Business Development Manager – North: Ben McQuay
McQuay’s brief is to engage with advisers and advice businesses from the top of the North Island to New Plymouth. He joined AIA in 2012 and has worked extensively as a Senior Business Development Manager, recently working as AIA’s Acting National Sales Manager.
Regional Business Development Manager – Central: Marty Hickling
This regional role for Hickling extends from Gisborne to Wellington for Hickling, who AIA advises has 35 years’ experience in financial services, having worked for 11 years at Sovereign before taking this role at AIA.
South Island: Michael Doherty
Prior to this role, Doherty, who has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, was a senior BDM with Sovereign.
Commenting on this new distribution structure, AIA’s Chief Partnership Insurance Officer, Sam Tremethick, said AIA NZ recently launched new products in the market – AIA Vitality and AIA Living – and with this we felt there was a need to expand our regional presence and empower our team to work with advisers in their region to help advisers grow their business.