Partners Life has confirmed the appointment of Mary-Jane (MJ) Daly to its board of directors, effective Dec. 2.
Daly will step into the role on Feb. 1, succeeding Jim Minto, who is set to retire after eight years in the position. A two-month transition period is planned to ensure a smooth handover.
Minto, who joined the board in 2017, oversaw several significant developments during his tenure. These included Partners Life’s acquisition of BNZ Life Insurance, finalised in 2022, and its integration as a subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Group Holdings following a shareholder sale process the same year.
Reflecting on his time with the company, Minto highlighted its growth from a start-up to a leading provider, citing Daly as a strong choice to lead the board through the next stage of its strategy.
“I’m proud to have contributed to Partners Life’s growth from a start-up to a market leader with diversified distribution operating as a part of Dai-ichi Life. MJ is the ideal person to lead the board going forward and to fulfil our strategy and brand promise,” he said.
Daly brings extensive governance experience, including roles as chair of AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited and the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund.
She is also an independent director at Kiwi Property Group Limited and Kiwibank Limited. Her prior governance roles include positions with Toka Tu Ake EQC, Cigna Life Insurance, and Airways Corporation.
In addition, she has held senior executive positions in banking and insurance in New Zealand and the UK.
Partners Life said that Daly’s expertise will support its commitment to advancing financial security for New Zealanders during a period of transformation for the sector.
Daly joins Partners Life following changes to its leadership team as part of a broader effort to enhance operational capabilities and distribution strategies.
The new structure, effective Oct. 1, includes the creation of two new senior roles: chief distribution officer and chief customer solutions officer.
Andries van Graan, previously chief of adviser distribution, has been promoted to chief distribution officer. In this expanded role, van Graan focuses on growing and diversifying the company’s distribution network, strengthening relationships with independent financial advisers, and managing its customer referral partnership with Bank of New Zealand (BNZ).
Kate Dron, formerly chief and appointed actuary, has been appointed chief customer solutions officer. Her responsibilities include leading initiatives to simplify and broaden customer offerings while building a data, analytics, and insights team to inform product development and improve customer engagement.
