Asteron general manager Jordan Hawke has been promoted as part of a company restructure in which Asteron's parent company, Suncorp Life, aims to double new business over three years.
Hawke will take on the new position of Asteron executive general manager.
Suncorp Life will be focused on two distribution channels, being the specialist independent financial adviser (IFA) market, led by Hawke, and the direct distribution to existing Suncorp customers.
The group said a greater focus on these channels would help leverage the Asteron risk business on the back of the direct distribution to their general insurance business, while at the same time placing greater importance on IFAs.
"We see enormous opportunity with regulatory changes coming up, and believe independent financial advice is here to stay - it's never been more important. That's why I have outlined a strategy to lead the IFA market, with Asteron as our core IFA brand," Suncorp Life chief executive Geoff Summerhayes said.
"In this context, IFAs are looking to build and sustain relationships with independent life insurance specialists outside the 'big four' banks and ongoing industry consolidation has given Suncorp Life's key life insurance brand, Asteron, the advantage of being one of the last bastions for the IFA."
Hawke, who has been in the industry for 20 years, has led all IFA relationship management functions and provides input and direction to Suncorp's Life Risk teams responsible for service delivery in the IFA channel.
"Jordan's reputation as the champion of IFAs, coupled with his passion for the life insurance industry and focus on customer care, made him the right choice to lead our intermediated business," Summerhayes said.
The Suncorp Group holds a clear advantage over competitors because of its scale, its industry-leading suite of insurance brands and the fact it has end-to-end control of its own manufacturing, pricing and distribution channels, he said.
