McDonalds Australia CEO announced as guest speaker for AFA/PFL Life Company of the Year Awards

Brad Fox

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and Plan for Life (PFL) will host a black tie dinner at The Westin, Sydney on 11 March to announce the winners of the AFA/PFL Life Company of the Year Awards (the Awards), and have announced Andrew Gregory, CEO of McDonalds Australia and Chairman of Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia as guest speaker.

AFA CEO, Brad Fox, said proceeds raised on the night will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities through the AFA Foundation, which has so far raised $135,000 over the current financial year.

“Australia’s life insurance leaders have always been very supportive of the AFA Foundation, and we are delighted to be able to have Andrew share stories of the impact charitable donations make on the lives of Australians who need it most, as well as those who give,” he said.

The Awards this year will be held during the period of the final drafting of the Life Insurance and Advice Working Group response to ASIC’s report into the quality of retail life insurance advice, the Trowbridge Report. “The AFA has a strong commitment to helping Australian’s recognise and solve their personal life insurance needs and whilst this strategic advice is important, implementation of an advisers recommendations requires support from the product manufacturers. The insurers play an important role in terms of product quality, but just as importantly in their business support, underwriting and claims performance.

“Financial advisers, through retail insurance policies, place around 50% of the total life insurance held by Australians. This means we shouldn’t underestimate the importance of financial advisers in getting Australians insured, and their importance to life insurers. Equally, the performance of life insurers is vitally important,” said Mr Fox. “Through recognizing outstanding performance, these awards seek to fuel competition and even higher standards in meeting the needs of both advisers and their clients.”

The AFA/PFL Life Company of the Year Awards include an overall platinum award, life insurance product category awards, annuity provider of the year, investment bond of the year and product innovation award.

The client service award category, introduced in 2013 in conjunction with RiskInfo and the Beddoes Institute, include underwriting team of the year, claims management team of the year and business development team of the year.

“Each year we have finalists who are constantly raising the bar in terms of their service, and their product innovation, and we are delighted to be able to recognise their impact on the industry.”