Media release
04 July 2018
MLC Life Insurance appoints new Head of Underwriting
MLC Life Insurance has reinforced its leadership in underwriting with the appointment of industry leader, Mick Jones, as the new Head of Underwriting.
Jones, currently Chief Underwriter of HSBC in Hong Kong, will officially join the life insurer in August, and will report to Chief Underwriting Officer, Debbie Kennedy.
Jones' main responsibility will be to lead and enhance the performance of MLC Life Insurance's underwriting team nationally, and to enhance the life insurer's new automated underwriting platform to make it easier and more efficient for advisers and customers to get cover.
Speaking about the appointment Debbie Kennedy, Chief Underwriting Officer, MLC Life Insurance said:
"Mick is a highly respected leader in the life insurance industry and joins us as we begin a new era of underwriting. His experience across Australia and Asia will be invaluable as we seek to bring this important function into the digital age, develop our team and provide a more streamlined and efficient process for customers and advisers."
Jones brings a wealth of experience in underwriting, life insurance and reinsurance spanning 30 years, including leadership positions in Australia and internationally. Most recently, he led the transformation of the underwriting and claims management processes for HSBC in Hong Kong, resulting in improved customer experience and higher productivity. As a part of this regional role he led a team of 40 underwriters, claims consultants and operations staff across Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.
Speaking about his appointment Jones said:
"I'm very excited about the new direction of MLC Life Insurance under majority ownership of Nippon Life, especially its push on underwriting innovation. They want to take underwriting out of the back office and move it to the front office, supported by the use of data and analytics. I look forward to working with Debbie, who has such a wealth of experience internationally and in Australia, and her growing team."
In April, MLC Life Insurance launched its new digital underwriting platform to help reduce the time it takes for advisers and customers to purchase life cover. The automated platform includes a self-serve pre-assessment tool, giving customers an indicative, underwriting decision in as little as five minutes.
The platform works by using a comprehensive database of questions that are standard in the industry that assess a person's health and lifestyle status. The platform also provides an instant quote on premiums based on the responses and has seen a tripling of the number of clients who receive a straight through acceptance for cover.
Jones, currently Chief Underwriter of HSBC in Hong Kong, will officially join the life insurer in August, and will report to Chief Underwriting Officer, Debbie Kennedy.
Jones' main responsibility will be to lead and enhance the performance of MLC Life Insurance's underwriting team nationally, and to enhance the life insurer's new automated underwriting platform to make it easier and more efficient for advisers and customers to get cover.
Speaking about the appointment Debbie Kennedy, Chief Underwriting Officer, MLC Life Insurance said:
"Mick is a highly respected leader in the life insurance industry and joins us as we begin a new era of underwriting. His experience across Australia and Asia will be invaluable as we seek to bring this important function into the digital age, develop our team and provide a more streamlined and efficient process for customers and advisers."
Jones brings a wealth of experience in underwriting, life insurance and reinsurance spanning 30 years, including leadership positions in Australia and internationally. Most recently, he led the transformation of the underwriting and claims management processes for HSBC in Hong Kong, resulting in improved customer experience and higher productivity. As a part of this regional role he led a team of 40 underwriters, claims consultants and operations staff across Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.
Speaking about his appointment Jones said:
"I'm very excited about the new direction of MLC Life Insurance under majority ownership of Nippon Life, especially its push on underwriting innovation. They want to take underwriting out of the back office and move it to the front office, supported by the use of data and analytics. I look forward to working with Debbie, who has such a wealth of experience internationally and in Australia, and her growing team."
In April, MLC Life Insurance launched its new digital underwriting platform to help reduce the time it takes for advisers and customers to purchase life cover. The automated platform includes a self-serve pre-assessment tool, giving customers an indicative, underwriting decision in as little as five minutes.
The platform works by using a comprehensive database of questions that are standard in the industry that assess a person's health and lifestyle status. The platform also provides an instant quote on premiums based on the responses and has seen a tripling of the number of clients who receive a straight through acceptance for cover.