Brewer to steer Pivotal growth

Tower Australiahas appointed former Royal & SunAlliance general manager sales and marketing Ken Brewer as the new head of its recently restructured Pivotal dealer group.

The appointment comes as part of a plan to introduce a new growth strategy for the group over the next six months.

Tower head of sales Stephen Robertson says Brewer’s “history of success in growing financial services businesses” was a major drawcard, with the group planning to double the size of the dealer group - from 43 advisers to more than 100 - by the end of the calendar year.

Robertson says Brewer was also chosen for his experience with life and risk-based dealers, given the Pivotal dealer group’s recent restructure saw it develop a new strategy to focus on advisers in risk and superannuation businesses.

Tower Australia chief executive Jim Minto says Brewer’s appointment is a further step in refocusing the life insurance business primarily on the risk market and related investments, in line with the overall shifting of Tower strategy.

“This is our key strength and we aim to position the life business squarely with those advisers who wish to specialise in that market. Pivotal will be very attractive to such advisers,” Minto says.

The changes within the dealer group will also see Pivotal advisers gain access to specialist risk, superannuation technical and sales support, a variety of approved products and services across those investment platforms.

Changes have also been made to recognition programs and remuneration packages with a fixed and variable (capped) fee to be announced shortly.

Brewer’s knowledge of life insurance, products and distribution comes largely from his senior marketing, product and sales roles within both the life insurance and wider financial services industry. Prior to working at Royal & SunAlliance he was managing director ofBNP Paribas Equities Private.