MLC expands group insurance division

MLC Life Insurance chief customer officer for group insurance, Suzanne Smith, says the expansion of the group insurance team will complement the existing experience within the business.

“We’re thrilled to have such high-calibre industry professionals join our existing strong team, as we increase our focus on group insurance,” Ms Smith said in a statement.

“Our ability to attract such great external talent is testament to our plans to broaden and deepen our servicing of corporate and industry funds.”

Ms Smith has made several changes to the group insurance team since taking charge in November last year. She appointed Stephen Sefton as head of product and strategy and expanded the portfolio of MLC’s head of sales and relationships, corporate and industry funds, Joe Thompson, to include sales and relationship management activities.

Other recent new hires include the appointments of Michael Shagrin as senior relationship manager of corporate and industry funds, Jenny Liu as pricing manager, Megan Clements as strategic products manager, Sean Potter as senior relationship manager and Matt Lang as senior manager of transformation.

“The recent acquisition of 80 per cent shares of MLC Limited, by the Nippon Life Insurance Company, the eighth largest life insurer in the world, presents us with the opportunity to invest and grow,” Ms Smith said.

“With this expanded team in place, we are in a very strong position to deepen our existing partnerships with our customers and expand our industry fund portfolio.”

MLC Life Insurance announced last month it would expand distribution of its direct-to-consumer life insurance product via NAB’s 760 branches.