TAL shakes up executive team

TAL has undergone an executive reshuffle across its group life and retirement business, individual life business, and technology arm.

Namely, Jenny Oliver has been appointed chief executive of TAL’s group life and retirement business, where she will be responsible for leading TAL’s partnerships with the superannuation community to provide life insurance solutions to super fund members.

According to the insurance company, her current role as chief claims officer has seen her lead the transformation of TAL’s claims capabilities, amplify its risk and governance practices, and deliver a technology transformation program.

TAL further confirmed that it will undertake a recruitment process to fill the chief claims officer role, with Ms Oliver to provide executive oversight in the interim.

Meanwhile, chief commercial officer of TAL’s individual life business, Tim Thorne, has announced his intention to retire from his executive career and pursue a non-executive portfolio.

“Mr Thorne has led the individual life business through a period of significant change and growth, including the acquisitions of Asteron Life and Westpac Life,” TAL said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Mr Thorne has brought a culture of innovation and strong customer focus to TAL during a period of significant disruption in the Australian life insurance industry.”

He will be replaced by Fiona Macgregor, who has spent the last five years serving as chief information and innovation officer.

“Under Ms Macgregor’s leadership, the individual life business will be focused on industry leadership in outcomes for customers, delivering value in TAL’s partnerships with financial advisers and strategic alliance partners, and providing Australians with access to high-quality life insurance solutions through their channel of choice,” TAL wrote.

“Ms Macgregor’s appointment will also see an emphasis on market-leading digital enablement and delivery to meet the needs and expectations of customers and partners.”

Lastly, Hinesh Chauhan has been promoted to chief information officer, with responsibility for the company’s technology function.

Mr Chauhan, who is currently general manager, technology, first joined TAL in 2018 and remains focused on working with the insurers technology partners to support business operations.

Commenting on the executive shake-up, TAL group chief executive officer and managing director Brett Clark said: “These leadership appointments to group life and retirement, individual life and technology, reflect TAL’s unwavering commitment to our customers and partners and I am delighted that it has been an obvious choice to appoint these roles.”

Mr Clark further thanked Mr Thorne for his contributions to the executive team.