Mercer chief to take on AIA Australia life insurance

Mercer CEO and MD, Ben Walsh, will take on the role of chief life insurance officer for AIA Australia in June.

Walsh announced his departure from Mercer earlier this month.

Announcing the appointment, AIA Australia and New Zealand CEO, Damien Mu, said, "We're thrilled to have secured such a high-calibre leader in Ben, who joins the AIA family with decades of experience and a shared passion for purpose and Making a Difference in peoples' lives.

"We have a unique customer value proposition of Life, Health and Wellbeing and each of those pillars is fundamental to our shared value model. In heading up the Life pillar of the business, Ben will pay a key role in helping us realise our vision of making Australia and New Zealand the healthiest and best protected nations in the world.

"As the business continues to grow, Ben's leadership and expertise will allow us to deliver greater value in life insurance, further strengthening our leadership by identifying and investing in innovative ways to meet evolving customer needs and expectations."

Walsh said AIA Australia's reputation was a selling point for him. "I have admired AIA and its people since prior to its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and over the years have been fortunate enough to visit its operations and leadership in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Australia. As the largest global life insurer in the world, AIA is extremely well placed to deliver its vision and in this new role, I look forward to helping the business and team, along with clients and partners, make Australia one of the healthiest and best protected nations in the world."

Walsh has been MD and CEO for Mercer Australia since 2015 and first joined Marsh & McLennan as a graduate in the early 1990s.

He holds several directorships, including for the Financial Services Council and is chair of Pillar Administration.

Mercer recently announced that David Bryant would replace Walsh as Australian CEO.