TAL appoints two new board members

TAL has welcomed two new independent non-executive directors to its board.

Angela Mentis and Akifumi Kai have been named the new independent non-executive directors.

TAL also acknowledged the retirement of Christine Bartlett from the board, following her significant contribution as an independent non-executive director.

Mentis brings 37 years of financial services experience to the board, including as managing director and chief executive of Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), group executive Business Banking and chief digital, data and analytics officer at NAB, alongside other senior roles at Westpac, BT Financial Group and Citibank.

"I am honoured to join the TAL board at such an exciting time for the business and for the life insurance industry more broadly," she said.

"TAL's commitment to protecting Australians and supporting them and their families when it matters most deeply resonates with me. I have spent my career focused on customers and communities, and I look forward to contributing to TAL's next chapter."

Meanwhile, Kai is a director at TAL's parent company Dai-ichi Life Group, where he has been responsible for corporate planning, organisational restructuring, and the development and execution of growth strategies in Japan and overseas for the past eight years.

"TAL plays a vital role in protecting Australians and their families, and I look forward to supporting the business as it continues to evolve," he said.

Welcoming both directors, TAL chair David Cohen said the appointments will contribute to TAL's next phase of growth.

"Angela brings deep expertise across digital strategy and customer transformation, and a proven track record of leading large, complex organisations with purpose and performance," Cohen said.

"Akifumi brings valuable perspective from Dai-ichi Life Group, along with a strong background in corporate strategy and international business development.

"Together, their complementary experience will be a tremendous asset to TAL as we continue to grow and evolve the way we serve Australians, their families and communities."

TAL group chief executive and managing director Fiona Macgregor echoed Cohen's statement,

"Angela's expertise in customer experience, organisational culture, and business performance, combined with her strong background in digital and data strategy, aligns exceptionally well with our priorities," Macgregor said.

"Akifumi's deep knowledge of Dai-ichi Life's strategy and his international financial services experience will further strengthen the connection between TAL and Dai-ichi Life. We very much look forward to the perspective and counsel both Angela and Akifumi will bring."