Newnham bumped up in reshuffle at Zurich
Steve Newnham has been bumped up from the position of head of distribution investment and life business to group head of sales atZurich.
The move is part of a series of staff changes in Zurich’s investment management and life insurance business following a restructure of the Swiss group’s Australian financial services division.
In his new role, Newnham will be responsible for coordinating sales strategies across the entire organisation, as well as managing the group’s investment and life business sales force. Newnham originally joined Zurich in 2000 after leaving the position of executive vice president at BT.
Previous head of retail and wholesale investments Rod Hudson will also move into the role of head of intermediary sales as part of the changes. Hudson, a former financial adviser, was a director and shareholder in dealer group IFMA prior to joining Zurich.
In other changes at the group, Michael Harrison will become the new head of life risk with responsibility for the management of Zurich’s life insurance and life risk business, while Carl McGann will take responsibility for Zurich’s wrap and master trust products and Dealer Back Office Services (DBOS) service as head of adviser services and platforms.
McGann has most recently been responsible for Zurich’s investment business distribution strategy, and was previously employed at BT Australia, where he was involved in the launch of Australia’s first wrap account.
The restructure has also resulted in greater integration between Zurich’s investment and life and general insurance businesses.
Responsibility for the group’s investment management and life insurance units are now combined under general manager Peter Delprado. Head of investment management and life operations Leeann Willson has lost her position but will move to another within the company, while former head of investment management and life market development Lester Doecke will depart permanently.
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