MLC Life creates new chief underwriter role

Ms Kennedy, who will commence in the role “in the latter part of 2017”, will lead a team of more than 130 people to oversee the development and execution of underwriting strategy, reporting directly to chief customer officer for retail advised insurance Melissa Heyhoe.

“Debbie is a highly accomplished expert in underwriting and product design and joins us during an exciting period of transformation,” Ms Heyhoe said of the appointment.

MLC Life Insurance said Ms Kennedy’s appointment came at a time of “significant growth and expansion”, noting the company is presently developing automated underwriting tools that use the ‘UnderwriteMe’ rules engine.

“[Ms Kennedy’s] intimate knowledge of UnderwriteMe and innovation in the area of predictive analytics will be invaluable as we seek to provide a more streamlined and efficient underwriting process for customers and advisers,” Ms Heyhoe said.

In addition to her role with UK-based life insurer Royal London, Ms Kennedy has held a number of senior management positions with the likes of Swiss Re and Capita Life and Pensions over the course of her three-decade-long career within the financial services industry.