Life insurer chief executives step down, successor named

Acenda Group is set to welcome a group chief executive, as Kent Griffin and Tim Tez announce their departures.

Former Westpac executive Chris de Bruin has been appointed chief executive of Acenda Group, subject to regulatory approvals of the merger between Acenda and Resolution Life Australia, which is expected to complete in the second half of the year.

Griffin and Tez, who currently head up Acenda and Resolution Life respectively, will remain with the company for a period to support de Bruin with his onboarding.

de Bruin brings 25 years' experience across the financial services sector globally, including his most recent stint at Accenture.

Prior to that, he was chief executive, consumer and business banking for three years at Westpac. He also held executive titles across various institutions including Standard Charted Bank, Zafin, Deem Finance, and more.

Commenting, incoming chair Craig Dunn welcomed de Bruin while thanking the outgoing chiefs.

"Having had the pleasure of working with Chris before, I know the strength of leadership and strategic insight he will bring to the role, and the great passion he has for creating an exceptional experience for both customers and employees alike," Dunn said.

"I pass on my sincere thanks and best wishes to both Kent and Tim for their dedication and commitment to leading the organisations that will make up the Acenda Group, and for fostering the development of the growth platforms that I know will provide a strong foundation for the future success of Acenda."

Acenda's parent company Nippon Life president Satoshi Asahi said he has confidence in de Bruin's leadership.

"It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to Mr de Bruin upon his appointment as the new chief executive of the Acenda Group," Asahi said.

"I am confident that he brings the experience and strategic insight essential for steering the organization through the integration process and beyond.

"Under Mr de Bruin's leadership, I believe the Acenda Group will enhance its position in the market while consistently delivering exceptional service and value to its policyholders. I look forward to supporting him as he embarks on this important journey to lead our Australian and New Zealand operations."

Resolution Life founder, chair and chief executive Clive Cowdery said the appointment came at an important time for the life insurance industry across Australia and New Zealand, while also thanking Tez for his contribution for the last three years.

de Bruin commented: "I am excited to join the Acenda Group at the start of this new chapter. I would like to thank Nippon Life president Satoshi Asahi and Resolution Life founder and chief executive Clive Cowdery for the opportunity."

"Building on the foundations established under the leadership of Kent Griffin and Tim Tez, I look forward to working with our chair Craig Dunn, the board, our shareholders and the exceptional team across the Acenda Group to achieve our vision to provide outstanding service and value to our customers and partners."

The appointment follows the assembly of the board of directors announced last Friday, which includes incumbent directors at both companies.