MLC Life Insurance has announced its new leadership team for the Bancassurance, Digital and Direct team, following the recent partnership between National Australia Bank (NAB) and Nippon Life Insurance Company.

Led by Anand Thomas, Chief Customer Officer, Bancassurance Digital & Direct Insurance, the leadership team comprises a mix of experienced insurance professionals and domain experts in the area of digital and data science.

The announcement comes as MLC Life Insurance increases its investment in digital and data capabilities. This includes a focus on creating products and services that are based on the concepts of human-centred design, rather than being distribution-led, and using Big Data to speed up traditionally cumbersome processes like making a claim and being underwritten.

In December last year, MLC Life Insurance commissioned the Big Data in Life Insurance Report to investigate how Big Data can be used to revolutionise the sector. The report revealed Big Data will transform the Australian life insurance industry by enabling deeper engagement with customers, a better understanding of risk and streamlining claims processing and underwriting.

Commenting on the new hires, Mr Thomas said, “We are in an exciting period of growth, and we intend on delivering on this by providing our customers with an experience they have come to expect from their interactions with other innovative, customer focused organisations such as Google, Disney, Apple, and Amazon.

“The customer must be at the heart of everything we do. By improving our digital and data science capabilities and learning from other leading customer experience organisations, we hope to simplify and transform the experience we provide to our customers, our advisers and superannuation partners a truly customer-centric life insurer.

The new leadership team includes:

• Tim Roso, Head of Digital, who brings strong senior leadership experience in digital product development, digital transformation and innovation growth strategy across financial services and insurance;
• Glen Ryman, General Manager Data, Analytics and CRM, who brings over 15 years’ experience working in customer and digital analytics, geospatial analysis, Internet of Things and Big Data. Glen has previously held leadership roles in Medibank, Accenture, Deloitte and Suncorp;
• Michael Olivier, General Manager of Sales, who brings over 12 years working at NAB and MLC Life Insurance across a number of states and roles;
• Nick Lethbridge, Head of Product, who is responsible for developing MLC Life Insurance’s Consumer Credit, Advice and Direct products that are sold and distributed through NAB channels;
• Stephen Rosengren, Head of Channel Development, who has deep experience in life insurance and will play a key role in managing the relationship between MLC Life Insurance and NAB as well as opening new channels for the distribution of MLC Life Insurance products
• Mouli Ganguly, Head of Transformation Bancassurance, who has successfully scoped and delivered a number of NAB banking program releases, and will be responsible for prioritising, scoping and delivering a change program to MLC Life Insurance’s Bancassurance and Direct portfolio, Digital channels and Data transformation

“The recent acquisition of MLC Life Insurance by Nippon Life Insurance Company gives us the opportunity to put a team such as this in place. We’re in a tremendous position and we look forward to hitting the ground running in 2017,” said Mr Thomas.

About MLC Life Insurance

MLC Life Insurance is a specialised life insurance business.  It represents a landmark strategic partnership between National Australia Bank (NAB) and Nippon Life Insurance under which NAB retain 20% shareholding and Nippon Life hold a majority 80% of the shares in MLC Limited, the entity which operates the MLC Life Insurance business. The Australian-led and managed business aims to leverage Nippon Life’s global presence, built over 127 years, alongside MLC Life Insurance’s significant experience in understanding and meeting the insurance needs of everyday Australians since 1886.

For more information on MLC Life Insurance, visit mlcinsurance.com.au