MetLife Australia expands retail team

MetLife Australia has announced the promotion of Richard Holt to head of service delivery, effective immediately, as one of several new relationship management and underwriting appointments within the firm's retail team.

Holt is MetLife's former head of sales development and previously held senior roles at MLC, BT, and Deutsche Bank.

In his new role, he will be responsible for MetLife's retail service proposition, supporting advisers and other intermediaries across new business, underwriting, and policy administration.

He will be joined by:

* Rachel Towell, state manager for NSW and ACT, who previously held the same role at AIA Australia.
* Stuart White, state manager QLD, who was most recently a senior client development manager at AIA Australia.
* Simon Dent, national retail underwriting manager for NSW and QLD, who previously spent 10 years with MLC, most recently as head of underwriting and new business.
* Adrian Young, national retail underwriting manager for Vic, Tas, SA, and WA, who was most recently state underwriting manager for Vic at BT Financial Group (now Pendal Group).
* Fiona Quinn, senior retail underwriter, who was most recently MetLife's manager underwriting services and operations for Victoria, SA, and WA.
* Hadley Fredericks, senior retail underwriter, who was previously a senior underwriter at Zurich Life and Macquarie Life.

MetLife Australia head of retail sales, Matt Lippiatt, said: "At MetLife, sales and underwriting work closely together with a one team mindset to support licensees and advisers. These appointments significantly strengthen our capabilities, and I'm delighted to welcome our newcomers."

He added: "Richard's new role signals our commitment to delivering a consistent end-to-end adviser experience from new business through to policy administration. Rachel and Stuart's experience and insights will enable us to build trusted, mutually productive relationships with licensees and advisers ... Simon, Adrian, Fiona, and Hadley all have proven reputations at blending commercial risk assessment with solid understanding of advisers' business needs."