Acenda Group assembles board of directors

Four independent non-executive directors have been named to the board of what will be known as the Acenda Group, following the merger with Resolution Life Australasia.

Catherine Dubé, David Stephen, Melissa Babbage and Rosheen Garnon will become independent non-executive directors of the merged entity following Acenda's parent company Nippon Life's acquisition of Resolution Life in December 2024.

On completion of this transaction, which is expected to occur in the second half of 2025, Resolution Life Australasia and Acenda will merge to form the Acenda Group.

Dubé and Stephen are current independent non-executive directors of MLC while Babbage and Garnon are independent non-executive directors of Resolution Life Australasia.

These appointments will take effect upon completion of the transaction, along with the appointment of Craig Dunn as chair of the Acenda Group.

"I welcome the appointments of Melissa, Rosheen, Catherine, and David as future directors of the Acenda Group board," Dunn said.

"I look forward to working with them as we develop and enhance our products and services to meet the needs of millions of customers across Australia and New Zealand."

Additionally, current independent director of the MLC Jacqueline Korhonen will remain in her role.

Meanwhile, former MLC Life managing director and chief executive Rodney Cook will join as independent non-executive director of Resolution Life Australasia in late October.

Both MLC and Resolution Life Australasia boards will operate as subsidiaries of the Acenda Group upon completion.