Several insurance companies and brokers have announced leadership changes across their Australian operations, with appointments spanning retail insurance, corporate affairs, life risk, and people risk. The changes come as insurers and intermediaries continue to adjust their leadership structures across product, pricing, distribution, retention, and specialist advisory functions.
Bupa has appointed Jonathan Rose (pictured) as chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer for Bupa APAC. Rose will join Bupa’s executive leadership team and report to APAC CEO Nick Stone. He is due to commence in November 2026, following the departure of Roger Sharp, who has moved to a role in the not-for-profit health sector. Bupa said Rose will oversee communications and engagement, public affairs, media, external relations, and sustainability. His previous roles have included positions at General Motors, Telstra, Cricket Australia, NAB, and Bupa. Most recently, he was responsible for communications in Australia at Rio Tinto.
Stone said Rose would bring experience in corporate affairs and stakeholder engagement to the role. “I am delighted to welcome Jonathan back to Bupa. He brings deep experience in corporate affairs and stakeholder engagement, and his leadership will strengthen our ability to deliver on our purpose and support the continued growth and success of Bupa across the region,” Stone said. Rose said he would return to Bupa to lead corporate affairs and sustainability. “I’m proud to be returning to Bupa to lead Corporate Affairs and Sustainability. I’m looking forward to working with talented colleagues across the organisation, supporting the business through both opportunities and challenges, and helping tell the Bupa story in a meaningful and engaging way,” he said.
DKG Insurance Brokers has appointed Marnie Maloney (pictured immediately above) as head of life and people risk. Maloney brings more than 20 years of experience in life insurance and financial advice. Her background includes personal risk advice, business succession planning, and corporate protection. The broker said the appointment expands its specialist advice across life risk, business succession, key person protection, workers compensation, and employee benefits.
DKG managing director Luke Kelly linked the appointment to the role of people risk within broader business insurance programs. “People risk is business risk. The loss of an owner, key person, or critical workforce capacity affects continuity, revenue, lending arrangements, succession, and employee confidence,” Kelly said. He said Maloney would provide specialist capability across life risk, business protection, and employee benefits.
Maloney said her focus would include advice, technical support, underwriting guidance, and claims support. “Life and people risk advice works best when it starts with the way the business operates. My focus is on practical advice, technical support, underwriting guidance, and claims support. Whether the issue is business succession, key person dependency, personal protection, or employee benefits, the right programme should reflect the people the business relies on,” Maloney said.
AIA Australia has appointed Paula Bourke as chief retail insurance officer. Bourke will lead the insurer’s retail leadership team, bringing its product, pricing, distribution, and retention functions together under one structure. AIA Australia said the changes are intended to support its retail strategy, including its approach to growth and customer and adviser outcomes. Bourke joins from SCOR Australia and New Zealand, where she was chief executive officer. Her career has included senior roles at SCOR, BT Financial Group/Westpac, and CommInsure. Her experience covers life insurance, reinsurance, product and pricing strategy, business transformation, digital and AI-enabled propositions, and relationships with insurers, advisers, superannuation funds, distribution partners, and regulators.
AIA Australia chief executive officer and managing director Damien Mu said the new structure would bring the functions together. “The new structure of our Retail team represents an important step in delivering our strategy. By bringing together our product, pricing, distribution, and retention capabilities, we are creating a stronger, more connected structure that optimises how we can be supporting advisers, meeting the changing needs of customers and delivering sustainable growth,” Mu said. Bourke said the appointment comes as the life insurance sector changes. “I’m looking forward to working with the talented Retail team and our advice partners to build on that foundation, deliver meaningful value for customers, and drive sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving market,” Bourke said.
AIA Australia also said Stephanie Phillips and Pina Sciarrone will leave the organisation at the end of September. Both have spent more than 15 years with the insurer. Bourke is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds an MBA with Dean’s Merit. She has also held board and advisory roles, including with the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI), and has received a Women in Financial Services Award for Life Insurance.
