AMP Chief Executive Craig Meller said the new group structure delivers sharper  focus on performance in the core Australian businesses, drives efficiency  across the group and provides increased emphasis on the growth drivers in the portfolio.

The key changes to the group leadership team are:

• Wealth Solutions and Customer: Paul Sainsbury will lead a new division bringing together customer, wealth  management and product solutions.
• Advice and New Zealand: Jack Regan, currently Managing Director New Zealand, will lead an expanded  portfolio, assuming responsibility for AMP’s advice businesses. Mr Regan will retain responsibility for the  management of AMP New Zealand.
• AMP Bank: Sally Bruce will join the  group leadership team as Group Executive, AMP Bank.
• Insurance: Megan Beer will be appointed Group Executive, Insurance, bringing single point accountability to the stabilisation and management of the insurance business.
• Technology and Operations: Craig Ryman will become Group Executive, Technology and Operations, assuming an expanded portfolio combining IT and operations.
• Enterprise Risk Management: Saskia Goedhart, Chief Risk Officer, will join the group leadership team.

The leadership changes are effective 1 January 2017.  Management of the other divisions remain  unchanged.  An updated structure chart and biographies are attached.

As a  result of the changes, three executives will leave the organisation: Pauline Blight-Johnston, Group Executive, Insurance, Super and Risk Management; Rob Caprioli, Group Executive, Advice and Banking; and Wendy Thorpe, Group Executive Operations. Ms Thorpe had previously advised her intent to retire and will leave the business in early  2017 after helping to ensure the smooth transition of the operations  function.  Ms Thorpe will also shortly  join the board of AMP Bank as a Non-Executive Director.

“I would like to thank those  executives who are leaving the organisation for their contribution to AMP and  to the transformation of our core Australian business during the past three  years.  I wish each of them well for the future,” said Mr Meller.

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Pauline Blight-Johnston

AMP has announced key leadership appointments for its two newly created business divisions – Insurance and Superannuation, and Advice and Banking effective 20 January 2014.

The appointments come after AMP CEO Craig Meller announced his leadership team in October and are the next step in creating a leaner, more efficient and increasingly customer-driven organisation.

AMP Group Executive Pauline Blight-Johnston of the newly created Insurance and Superannuation division has made three appointments to her leadership team. The division is responsible for the company’s risk insurance, superannuation, investment, pensions and platforms business portfolios.

Megan Beer has been appointed Director, Insurance and will join AMP from NAB in February 2014.

Ms Beer has over 20 years’ experience in the actuarial and insurance industry. Prior to AMP she headed up NAB’s wealth management and insurance proposition through the bank channel, as General Manager Bancassurance and Direct.

Ms Beer will be responsible for driving AMP’s insurance business through a time of change for the industry, and bringing together services from across AMP to provide a sustainable and attractive customer insurance experience.

Patricia Montague has been appointed Director of Superannuation with responsibility for superannuation, retirement and platform investment products. Ms Montague joined AMP in August 2013 as Director Wealth Management Products.

Ms Montague joined AMP from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where she was the General Manager of Retail Customers and Transformation.

Melinda Howes has been appointed Director Product Strategy and Services with responsibility for portfolio strategy and shared technical services across the Insurance and Superannuation business.

Ms Howes joined AMP in November 2013 from the Actuaries Institute, where she was CEO for more than three years. She has held senior positions at ASFA, and at BT Financial Group where she was Director of Superannuation and Retirement Products. She is well known in the industry for her expertise in issues around retirement, longevity and superannuation adequacy.

Ms Blight-Johnston said the appointments put AMP in a strong position to deliver a great experience to its customers in the rapidly changing insurance and superannuation environment.

“This is a strong team with the depth and breadth of experience we need to sustainably deliver the right solutions to our customers and to continue to remain contemporary and successful in a quickly changing world,” Ms Blight-Johnston said.

The AMP Advice and Banking division led by Group Executive Rob Caprioli is responsible for AMP’s advice, banking and corporate superannuation business portfolios; effectively bringing together the key channels through which customers come to AMP.

Mr Caprioli has made the following appointments to his team:

Steve Helmich takes on the role of Executive Director Financial Planning. AMP will leverage Mr Helmich’s extensive experience and understanding of the financial advice profession within its multiple advice brands and with external audiences. Mr Helmich will also represent AMP locally and internationally on key boards and forums.

The management of AMP’s advice businesses’ five licensees will be streamlined under three management teams.

Michael Guggenheimer, currently Managing Director of AMP’s biggest licensee, AMP Financial Planning (AMPFP) will have additional responsibility for Hillross. Tim Steele as Managing Director of ipac and Genesys will take on additional responsibility for Genesys, while Kevin Stone will continue as Managing Director of Charter Financial Planning.

Hugh Humphrey has been appointed Director Channel Strategy and Transformation and will be responsible for aligning business strategies with customer expectations across AMP’s channels. Mr Humphrey was previously Managing Director of Hillross.

Libby Roy and Mike Lawrence remain in their respective roles as Director Corporate Superannuation and Managing Director AMP Bank.

Mr Caprioli said the new division’s structure means that AMP has, for the first time, a single leadership team responsible for the primary ways customers join AMP.

“The significant depth of talent and experience in my team means we can deliver a seamless, effortless and personalised experience for our customers, no matter how they choose to begin a relationship with us. We will work closely with the rest of the business to deliver the products and services our customers want,” Mr Caprioli said.

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Mr Meller said the new structure and team reflects AMP’s plans to build a leaner, more efficient and increasingly customer-driven organisation.

The new structure brings together the senior leaders collectively responsible for delivering customer solutions across the organisation, as part of the one senior leadership team.

“I’m excited to announce the team that will take AMP forward as we enter the next phase of our evolution.  This new simpler structure will allow us to sharpen our focus on customers and respond to emerging opportunities more rapidly,” Mr Meller said.

The new Group Leadership Team is comprised of the following executives:

Lee Barnett – Chief Information Officer, responsible for AMP’s information technology function, workspace and sourcing.

Pauline Blight-Johnston – Group Executive Insurance and Superannuation, responsible for AMP’s risk insurance, retail superannuation, investment and pensions, and platforms business portfolios.

Rob Caprioli – Group Executive Advice and Banking, responsible for AMP’s advice, banking and corporate superannuation business portfolios.

Stephen Dunne – Managing Director AMP Capital, responsible for AMP’s investment management, investment performance and Asian growth strategy portfolios.

Gordon Lefevre – Chief Financial Officer, responsible for AMP’s finance function, effective 1 March 2014.

Matthew Percival – Group Executive Public Affairs and Chief of Staff, responsible for AMP’s public affairs function and the Office of the CEO.

Paul Sainsbury – Chief Customer Officer, responsible for AMP’s customer and self-managed superannuation business portfolios.

Brian Salter – General Counsel, responsible for AMP’s legal and governance functions.

Wendy Thorpe – Group Executive Operations, responsible for AMP’s customer service, contact centres, underwriting and claims operations portfolios.

Fiona Wardlaw – Group Executive People and Culture, responsible for AMP’s human resources function.

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Ms Blight-Johnston, currently Managing Director of RGA Reinsurance Company, is well-regarded within the wealth protection industry, with a strong track record in driving business growth through strong leadership and successful customer offerings. 

“I am delighted Pauline is joining our AFS leadership team.  Her extensive experience is reflected not only in the successful businesses she has led but in her contribution to industry organisations across the actuarial and insurance industries,” Mr Meller said. 

During her time at RGA, Ms Blight-Johnston led RGA’s business in Australia and New Zealand, and has also had leadership responsibilities in Japan and South Africa. 

Prior to RGA, Ms Blight-Johnston was Chief Financial Officer and Appointed Actuary of Asteron Life after being promoted from General Manager Actuarial Risk and Compliance.  Prior to Asteron she was a Senior Actuarial Consultant at Tillinghast-Towers Perrin and an Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley.  

Ms Blight-Johnston is a Director of the Financial Services Council of Australia and The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance. 

She has a Masters and Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Mr Meller said AMP’s current Director Wealth Protection and Mature products, Ian Campbell, who will leave the company mid next year, has made a significant contribution to the insurance business. 

“Like many people who have worked with him, I have immense respect for Ian.  His depth of knowledge and leadership has been a real asset for AMP, especially in his role in building our combined risk insurance business post AMP’s merger with AXA,” Mr Meller said.

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