Mr. de Bruin’s appointment follows Nippon Life’s announcement in December 2024 that it had agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Resolution Life. On completion of this transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to occur in the second half of 2025, Acenda and Resolution Life Australasia will merge to form one of the largest life insurance businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. de Bruin brings a wealth of experience, from an exceptional 25-year career in executive roles in the financial services sector globally. His appointment as the Acenda Group CEO further strengthens the leadership of the merged group, in concert with the previously announced Chair, Mr. Craig Dunn, and Independent Non-Executive Directors. Mr. de Bruin’s appointment will take effect upon completion of the transaction.

Acenda and Resolution Life Australasia extend their sincere thanks to the current Acenda CEO, Mr. Kent Griffin and Resolution Life Australasia CEO, Mr. Tim Tez for their exceptional leadership and dedication during their tenure. Their contributions have laid a strong foundation for the future success of the Acenda Group as the company begins its new chapter. Mr. Griffin and Mr. Tez will remain with the company for a period and will support Chris with his onboarding.

Mr Satoshi Asahi, President of Nippon Life said, “It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to Mr. de Bruin upon his appointment as the new CEO of the Acenda Group. I am confident that he brings the experience and strategic insight essential for steering the organisation through the integration process and beyond.

“I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Kent Griffin for his invaluable contributions to the growth and development of Acenda during his appointment.

“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.”

Sir Clive Cowdery, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Resolution Life, said, “This is an important time for the industry in Australia and New Zealand, and Acenda’s customer focussed agenda will greatly benefit from Chris de Bruin’s strategic vision. I would like to thank to Tim Tez for the outstanding job he has done as CEO of Resolution Life Australasia during these last three years.”

Mr Craig Dunn, the future independent Chair of Acenda said, “On behalf of everyone at the new Acenda Group, I extend a generous welcome to Mr. Chris de Bruin as our new CEO. 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. 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.”

Mr. Chris de Bruin said, “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 & CEO Sir Clive Cowdery for the opportunity. Building on the foundations established under the leadership of Kent Griffin & 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.”

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Kent Griffin

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Acenda, Kent Griffin, says the life insurance industry has a vital role to play in Australia’s safety net to help address some of the nation’s biggest economic and health challenges. 

Mr Griffin was speaking at the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) conference in Sydney yesterday. He is the Co-Chair of CALI which represents Australia’s life insurance industry. 

 “As an industry we have never had a better opportunity to work together to address these challenges and embrace the opportunities in front of us. To build a new vision for Australia’s life insurance industry,” he said. 

 “Indeed, Australia needs us more than ever. A strong life insurance sector can play a vital role in Australia’s safety net and address the nation’s twin policy challenges of an ageing population and soaring healthcare costs.” 

 Mr Griffin said the life insurance industry was operating in a landscape undergoing significant change because of regulatory changes, changing demographics and economic uncertainty. He said access to affordable, quality advice was critical in helping Australians to manage their financial security.  

 “We know there is a large, unmet need for advice and guidance on life insurance. CALI’s latest sentiment tracker shows 33 per cent of working Australians sought or considered financial advice in the past three months but only seven per cent actually received it,” he said. 

 Mr Griffin said life insurance had been a critical part of Australia’s safety net since the gold rush and provided Australians with peace of mind during life’s biggest challenges and reduced the reliance on social welfare and disability schemes. 

 “Each year around 85,000 Australians receive more than $11 billion from life insurance claims,” he said. “Life insurance is a trusted option for consumers. Customers who purchase life insurance place great value on the peace of mind it affords and trust their life insurer will be there when they need them.” 

 Mr Griffin called for solutions that will not only support access to life insurance for more Australians but make it more affordable and appropriate for their needs. “We must continue to work together as an industry to embrace a comprehensive agenda of reform,” he said. 

He said the Government’s latest tranche of financial advice reforms were a positive step but more can be done.  

 “The Government has also committed to developing the remaining pieces to modernise the best interest duty and create a new class of adviser and that these combined with the draft legislation released will be introduced to Parliament as a single package. With this commitment from Government we are making progress,” he said.

 “Finally, we must continue to build trust with customers. To remain relevant and trusted, the life insurance industry must continue to evolve. This means improving product simplicity and transparency, ensuring advice and interactions are ethical and customer-centric, and using data and technology to enhance the customer experience. 

 “Affordable and accessible life insurance not only reduces the cost of public services but it will empower millions more Australians to make choices and take risks with confidence. 

 “By working together as an industry we can create an environment that fosters growth, stability and financial security for generations to come.” 

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Kent Griffin

Acenda welcomes the release of the latest tranche of reforms aimed at improving access to affordable advice for more Australians.

“Access to affordable, quality financial advice is critical in helping Australians manage their financial future, empowering them to make informed decisions about financial risks so they can achieve their long-term goals,” said Kent Griffin, CEO and Managing Director of Acenda.

“These reforms will help to simplify the advice framework, ensuring consumers can access advice in a format that is easy to understand and tailored to their individual needs.

“We welcome this positive step towards addressing Australia’s significant unmet need for financial advice. It is critical that the Government has strongly committed to developing the remaining pieces to modernise the best interests duty and create a new class of adviser, and that these combined with the draft legislation released will be introduced into Parliament as a single package.

“We look forward to collaborating with industry on the full implementation of this reform package to improve financial outcomes for millions of Australians.”

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Christine Cupitt

For the first time, a landmark event will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers to discuss how life insurance can create meaningful change for all Australians.

‘Wild For Life 2025’, the inaugural conference of the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI), will be taking place at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, on 2 April 2025.

“We are at a pivotal moment in Australia. About 3.4 million people are underinsured to meet basic needs for income protection^[1]. Even more concerning, our research shows only one in three working Australians are aware of the life insurance coverage they have^[2],” said Christine Cupitt, CEO of CALI.

“That’s why we’re looking beyond the horizon to understand the changing needs of all Australians.

“At the conference we’ll be diving into conversations about how insurers can better support women, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and people with mental health challenges.”

Attendees will make valuable connections with industry peers and gain insights from experts, policymakers, regulators, and consumer advocates.

A highlight is set to be a panel discussion on better serving women, including:

• Jamila Rizvi, a leading advocate, best-selling author, opinion columnist, podcast host, and gender equality advocate. As the Deputy Managing Director of Future Women, she champions gender equity in Australian workplaces by driving professional development, advocacy, and fostering a supportive community for women.
• Deanne Stewart, the CEO of Aware Super is an expert in super, wealth, and insurance. She is a strong advocate for gender equality and was honoured by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as a pay equity ambassador in 2019.
• Trish Gregory, CFP®, a millennial certified financial adviser and ReCALIbrate winner. She is renowned for her passionate advocacy for financial freedom and supporting women to enter the financial planning profession.
• Dr. Rebecca Huntley, one of Australia’s foremost researchers on social trends and a Fellow of the Women’s Leadership Institute of Australia and The Research Society. She leads CALI’s research work and has played an instrumental role in the Climate Compass, Gender Compass and Community Compass projects, which look at how Australians feel about critical issues in the community.

“Wild For Life 2025 isn’t just another industry event—it’s a call to action. This conference will challenge us to think bigger and act bolder in how life insurance serves Australians,” said Kent Griffin, CEO and Managing Director of MLC Life Insurance (becoming Acenda).

“With real conversations, real collaboration, and real outcomes, this is a unique opportunity to drive lasting change.”

CALI is also kicking off the 2025 review of the Life Code at a two-hour workshop, where attendees will help shape its foundations and deep dive into how it could better support Australians experiencing mental health challenges.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for attendees from all parts of the life insurance ecosystem to influence the future of the Life Code and help shape its next evolution,” Ms Cupitt said.

Get your ticket

———

Notes:
[1] Deloitte (previously Rice Warner), Underinsurance in Australia, 2020
[2] CALI Life insurance sentiment survey wave 6, December 2024

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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.

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MLC Life Insurance CEO and Managing Director Kent Griffin has been appointed Co-Chair and will share the role with his AIA Australia counterpart Damien Mu.

Kent has more than 30 years’ corporate and consulting experience in financial services, both in Australia and internationally.

“Kent is well known in our industry as an accomplished and respected leader. He’s a wonderful fit for our Board and we’re thrilled with this appointment,” said CALI CEO Christine Cupitt.

“MLC Life Insurance has strongly supported CALI since it was first established and I’m proud to be so closely involved with its progress as it continues to go from strength to strength” said Mr Griffin.

“It’s a pivotal time for our industry and CALI’s an essential part of driving better outcomes for the millions of people Australia’s life insurers serve every day,” he said.

Kent fills the position held by Brett Clark who has been appointed as CEO for Asia Pacific with TAL’s parent company, Dai-ichi Life, after almost a decade as TAL Group CEO and Managing Director.

“Brett has played a fundamental role in establishing CALI and ensuring its success as the leading and trusted voice of life insurance in Australia. We thank him for his invaluable contribution, expertise and guidance,” said Ms Cupitt.

Mr Clark said: “It has been a privilege to have played a role in the establishment of CALI and see its early work benefit customers and the community. I congratulate Kent on his appointment and wish him, Damien and the entire Board and CALI team well in the future.”

Three new Board Directors have also been appointed, including:

• TAL Group CEO and Managing Director Fiona Macgregor
• Munich Re Australasia Life CEO Nicolas Carro
• Challenger Chief Executive of Life and Solutions Anton Kapel.

“We look forward to working with these impressive industry leaders to ensure that Australians of all walks of life view our industry as accessible, understandable and trusted,” she said.

Pacific Life Re Managing Director of Protection, Asia Pacific and Global Strategy Tyson Johnston has also retired from his role on the CALI Board after two years.

“Tyson has been the consistent voice of reinsurers across our membership, and we thank him for his valuable contributions and his service, which came at such an important time for our organisation.”

The new additions to the CALI Board take the total number of Directors to ten.

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“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.”

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“MLC Life Insurance is a part of the Nippon Group and its largest business outside of Japan,” said Kent Griffin, Chief Executive Officer for MLC Life Insurance, “and this appointment is a sign of the close working relationship between Nippon Life and MLC Life, and the commitment that Nippon Life has to the ongoing success of our business in the Australian market.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Koji Ichiba to MLC Life Insurance and I know the broader business looks forward to working with Ichiba-san as well,” he said.

Minoru Kimura, Director and Managing Executive Officer for Nippon Life Insurance Group said of the appointment: “We believe in the importance and future of life insurance in Australia and MLC Life Insurance is an integral part of Nippon Life Insurance’s international growth strategy.”

“We are delighted Ichiba-san will be able to bring his unique expertise and significant international experience to MLC Life Insurance at this important time, as part of this critical partnership.”

Speaking of his appointment, Koji Ichiba said, “I am pleased to join MLC Life Insurance and would like to contribute to the development of the company and the Australian life insurance industry for our customers by fully utilising my experience in various countries.”

“MLC Life Insurance is an important part of the Nippon Life Group and this is a critical time for the industry to deliver for customers following implementation of the Albanese Government’s reforms to improve the access by all Australians to quality advice.”

Koji Ichiba joins MLC Life from Nippon’s Tokyo office, most recently serving as the General Manager of Overseas Life Insurance where he was responsible for financial performance and governance/risk management for all of Nippon Life’s global insurance businesses.

Joining Nippon Life Insurance in 1993, Koji has held multiple roles across the business, working in a number of locations including Thailand, Singapore and India. Some of these roles include Executive Vice President for Reliance Life Assurance in India, and Chief Executive Officer for Nippon Life Asia Pacific.

Ichiba-san replaces Tomonao Gotoda, who is returning to Tokyo where he will take up the senior role of General Manager, Global Business Planning Department within the Nippon Life Insurance Group.

“Gotoda-san has been a highly respected member of our Executive Team, a member of the MLC Life Insurance Board and his contribution over the past five years has been enormous and will have a lasting impact. From overseeing the acquisition and separation of MLC Life Insurance from National Australia Bank, to his leading role though the difficult times of the pandemic, he will be greatly missed both personally, and professionally,” said Kent Griffin, Chief Executive Officer for MLC Life Insurance.

Koji commenced in the role on 25 March 2024.

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Kent Griffin

Nearly half of Australian workers have three months’ or less savings in the event of a disability which prevents them from working, with almost a third of women only having one month of savings according to new research undertaken by MLC Life Insurance.

The research, conducted by Freshwater Strategy for MLC Life, challenges the current government-mandated default design of disability insurance to include only Total and Permanent Disability (TPD), showing that women are especially vulnerable to loss of income in an environment where TPD insurance requires claimants to sustain a total and permanent disability and sees individuals waiting an average of 2.5 years before they even lodge a claim.

While 22 per cent of men have savings of less than a month, the same is true for 35 per cent of women, demonstrating a 59 per cent gap. Overall, 46 per cent of all Australians have an income buffer of just three months or fewer.

The research demonstrates that it is also men who are more likely to be comfortable at the other end of the spectrum. While 19 per cent of Australian men have a savings buffer of 2 years or more, just 11 per cent of women live with the same level of financial security.

The research, conducted by MLC Life Insurance to explore the evolution of the product design of default TPD insurance, shows Australians are overwhelmingly in favour of a new approach, with 57 per cent preferring a steady stream of regular income over a lump sum payment in the event of illness or injury.

“The current approach to disability insurance in superannuation is centred on a binary assessment of total and permanent disability,” said Kent Griffin, Chief Executive Officer for MLC Life Insurance, “and, while it works for some, the evolving needs of members and changing nature of disability requires a debate about the most appropriate default disability insurance system that meets these needs.”

“TPD is a crucial safety net for those experiencing severe and long-lasting impairments, however its binary framework falls short in addressing the complex needs of Australians who experience temporary disability through injury or illness which is increasingly common in today’s environment.”

The current regulatory framework has led to most trustees providing only TPD and death insurance by default, leaving many members reliant on proving TPD without temporary incapacity support to enable them to get back on their feet and focus on recovery.

While TPD insurance serves a crucial purpose, its essential terms, lump sum nature and the fact that many TPD claimants ultimately return to work raises serious concerns about its effectiveness and sustainability as part of the current legislated default system. The research shows almost 50 per cent of Australians thought current practice was unacceptable and 60 per cent support changing the current default system if it reduces costs for consumers.

“Australians revealed a clear preference for income stream alternatives to lump sum payments in the event of disability,” said Mark Puli, Chief Group Insurance Officer for MLC Life Insurance. “This preference aligns with the reality that many Australians simply lack sufficient savings to sustain themselves for extended periods of unemployment due to temporary disability.”

Alarmingly, under the current lump-sum disability insurance model, a majority of Australians (55%) indicated they would pursue a disability claim even if they anticipated recovery or a return to their previous employment. This stark finding highlights the inherent flaw in the current default disability design, which may incentivise individuals to prioritise meeting the eligibility criteria rather than focusing on their recovery.

“People shouldn’t have to choose between their health and financial support, inadvertently increasing their risk of developing a level of permanent disability that necessitates support under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This heightened risk places a strain on the sustainability of the entire health and wellness ecosystem and worker safety net,” Kent Griffin said.

The research accompanies the release of a green paper by MLC Life Insurance exploring the evolution of disability insurance in super to deliver better outcomes for Australian workers facing illness and injury and superannuation trustees acting in the best financial interests of members.

“As one of Australia’s oldest life insurers, we’re determined to work with government, trustees and consumers to develop a more equitable and sustainable framework for supporting members with a disability, especially those with mental health-related disabilities,” said Mark Puli. “This framework should consider income stream alternatives within superannuation, address the gaps created by a total disability framework and instead focus on health, wellbeing and recovery, and enable a better and supportive interaction between private and public support schemes such as the NDIS.”

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Mirella Robinson

MLC Life Insurance has appointed experienced technology executive Mirella Robinson to the newly created Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role as part of the Executive Team.

“Given the importance of technology in delivering our strategy that puts the customer at the centre of what we do, I’m excited to draw from Mirella’s impressive experience as we create this crucial role,” said Kent Griffin, Chief Executive Officer of MLC Life Insurance.

Mirella is a senior technology executive with over 20 years’ experience spanning various industries including financial services, telecommunications, media and retail energy.

Mirella joins MLC Life Insurance from Cbus where she served as Chief Information and Technology Officer, significantly evolving their Technology and Data Strategy to leverage machine learning and AI practices, as well as successfully delivering two fund mergers and complex system integrations.

“Mirella has a proven track record of delivering customer experience by building strong teams, driving innovation, agility, and performance in diverse and complex environments,” said Kent Griffin. “We’re pleased to have someone with her background and expertise joining MLC Life Insurance to help deliver on our strategy.”

The CTO role will contribute to the significant body of work being undertaken by the business to further improve the systems, processes and industry-leading technology needed to offer an even better experience for advisers and customers, as well as superannuation funds, trustees and their members.

“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on solving problems to help people,” said Mirella Robinson. “Making sure customers are able to enjoy a great experience by accessing safe and simple systems is integral to the work of a CTO.”

“MLC Life Insurance is one of Australia’s oldest and most trusted life insurers, and I’m excited to bring my experience to continue to improve an already excellent proposition for customers and partners.”

Mirella commenced in the role on 26 February.

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