Jane McGovern

Acenda has unveiled its new brand platform, ‘Take Life On’, focusing on its mission to empower Australians to live life with confidence. 

The post ‘Take Life On’ – Acenda launches its new brand platform to empower Australians appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Melissa will lead MLC Life Insurance’s Risk function, which includes the company’s Risk, Compliance, Governance and Legal teams. She joined MLC Life Insurance in 2023 as General Manager, Risk, and has been acting as Chief Risk Officer since September 2024, replacing Jane McGovern who was appointed Chief Customer and Strategy Officer.

Prior to joining MLC Life Insurance, Melissa held senior risk, compliance and business transformation roles at iCare NSW and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Kent Griffin, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of MLC Life Insurance, congratulated Melissa on her appointment. “Melissa is a highly respected leader with more than 25 years’ experience spanning insurance, financial planning, superannuation and asset management.

“Since joining MLC Life Insurance, Melissa has driven a positive uplift in our risk capability. She has also done a fantastic job leading our Risk, Compliance, Governance and Legal function during what has become a time of significant change for our business,” he said.

“Melissa’s appointment further strengthens our leadership capability and I am delighted to have Melissa join our Executive Team as we progress plans to complete the merger and become Acenda later this year.”

Nippon Life announced in December 2024 that it had agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Resolution Life. On completion of this transaction, which is expected to occur in the second half of 2025, and subject to regulatory approvals, Resolution Life Australasia, and MLC Life Insurance will merge to create Acenda, one of Australia’s largest life insurance businesses.

The post MLC Life Insurance appoints new Chief Risk Officer appeared first on AdviserVoice.

“Appointing Gerard Kerr as Chief Executive Individual Business and Jane McGovern as our Chief Customer and Strategy Officer embodies our commitment to the customer experience and elevates our focus on the individual advised channel, while continuing the work we’re doing to improve our customer and partner proposition,” said Kent Griffin, Chief Executive Officer for MLC Life Insurance.

Gerard Kerr joins the business with more than 25 years’ industry experience, previously holding senior roles at Zurich, ANZ Wealth (OnePath Life), Asteron and most recently ClearView Wealth where he served as Group Executive – Life Insurance.

“Throughout our long history, financial advisers have been vital partners for MLC Life Insurance,” Kent Griffin said. “An experienced industry leader like Gerard allows us to build on the improvements to our adviser experience and deliver on our promise to customers who receive the critical support of advisers. This reinforces our commitment to the health and success of the financial advice industry more broadly.”

“We’re very fortunate to have someone with Gerard’s breadth of experience and expertise join the executive team at such an important time,” he said.

Speaking of the appointment, Gerard Kerr said: “MLC Life Insurance is a great business with big ambitions. I’ve been tasked with putting advisers at the centre of our retail business and I’m excited to work with an incredible team and join an already stellar effort happening in this space.”

“I think MLC Life Insurance have an incredible offering for advisers, and the backing of Nippon Life makes that offering even stronger,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting out and talking to advisers about how we can help them and their clients.”

Jane McGovern joined MLC Life Insurance in 2022 as Chief Risk Officer and takes on a new role as Chief Customer and Strategy Officer.

“Jane has delivered positive cultural change across the organisation as well as a focus on achieving better outcomes for our customers,” said Kent Griffin, “and now she will further strengthen our Total Customer Experience which is the core of our strategy.”

“I’m excited to continue working with Jane to deliver an exceptional experience for our customers and partners,” he said.

Speaking of the appointment, Jane McGovern said: “I’ve seen first-hand MLC Life’s commitment to its customers and partners, and I’m looking forward to working with an amazing team to take the Total Customer Experience to the next level.”

The post MLC Life Insurance goes for growth with executive appointments appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Jane McGovern

MLC Life Insurance has appointed Jane McGovern, currently Group Executive for Risk and Governance at iCare NSW, to the position of Chief Risk Officer.

Jane will officially join MLC Life Insurance on 19 September 2022 and report to Chief Executive Officer, Rodney Cook. She will replace Acting Chief Risk Officer, Edwina Star, a partner in the Risk & Regulation practice at PWC, who joined MLC Life Insurance in a temporary capacity following the departure of Darren Robinson in March.

Jane has over 20 years’ experience in providing risk advice and management to life insurers, general insurers, fund managers, superannuation trustees and dealer groups. In recent years, Jane was the Chief Risk Officer for Zurich Financial Services, responsible for its risk management framework and strategy across the General Insurance, Life Insurance and Investments, Superannuation, and Shared Services businesses.

Rodney Cook, Chief Executive Officer, MLC Life Insurance, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Jane to MLC Life Insurance. She is a seasoned and experienced Chief Risk Officer with a strong track record in driving innovation in risk management and compliance for some of Australia’s largest financial services organisations. Her understanding of the issues impacting our sector, as we continue to embed a strong risk culture in our business, will be important as we executive our business strategy.”

Jane McGovern said: “I’m very much looking forward to joining MLC Life Insurance and making a genuine contribution to the risk and governance culture of the organisation. I am excited to be able to bring innovative ideas and a commercial mindset to support the leadership team on MLC Life Insurance’s exciting journey.”

Jane is a member of the Law Society of NSW and was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in 1998. She completed a Post Graduate degree from the Securities Institute of Australia (now known as FINSIA) and has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance.

The post MLC Life Insurance appoints Chief Risk Officer appeared first on AdviserVoice.