This year seems to be a tough one for insurance companies with senior leaders leaving left and right – IAG’s chief executive officer announced his retirement five months ago, QBE Insurance recently lost its group chief executive following a complaint from a female colleague, and now Zurich’s chief distribution officer for life and investments is set to depart.
Kristine Brooks, the chief distribution officer for life and investments at Zurich, will take on a new role at Milford in December. In the new role, she will be responsible for driving business growth across Australia.
Milford chief executive Mark Ryland told Financial Standard: “We have a really exciting opportunity to significantly grow the business in Australia. She will build on the strong foundations in place where the Australian investment team manage over $2 billion in Australian equities.”
Brooks joined Zurich in 2005 and held numerous roles over the years, including regional manager for NSW/QLD and head of sales for life and investments. She took up the chief distribution officer role in June 2017 and retained it when the OnePath Life team transitioned to Zurich last year. She will remain in the role until November 27.
A spokesperson for Zurich told Financial Standard that internal and external recruitment is underway to replace Brooks. The company has also created two new roles as it restructures its insurance business.
OnePath head of propositions and group life Gerard Kerr will take on the head of group life role on an interim basis. Meanwhile, Zurich’s head of bancassurance and direct Kieran Forde has been appointed as the new head of customer and digital on an interim basis to oversee the group’s retail offerings.
