AIA Australia appoints new chief executive officer

AIA Australia announced today the appointment of Damien Mu, General Manager, Life Insurance of AIA Australia, to the position of Chief Executive Officer of AIA Australia, subject to regulatory approval. Damien replaces Peter Crewe, who will take up the role of Chief Executive Officer, Group Corporate Solutions of AIA Group based in Hong Kong. Both appointments are effective as of 1 August 2014.

Damien and Peter will both report to Gordon Watson, Regional Chief Executive Officer, AIA Group.

Commenting on the appointments, Gordon Watson said: “I would like to thank Peter for the many contributions he has made to our business in Australia. During Peter’s tenure as CEO, AIA Australia has experienced significant growth and I know that our employee benefits and pension business across the Asia-Pacific region is set to greatly benefit from his leadership. I am also delighted with Damien’s appointment, which exemplifies the deep level of talent we have across our business. I am very confident that he will guide our business in Australia to new heights in 2014 and beyond.”

Damien Mu has more than 17 years’ experience in the Australian financial services industry, with management experience spanning operations, claims and underwriting, superannuation, investments, distribution, product, pricing and marketing.

In the seven years he has been with AIA Australia, Damien has been instrumental in the significant growth of the Group and Retail distribution channels and most recently led the successful deployment of AIA Vitality, AIA’s new health and wellness program, in Australia.

Theresa Gattung, Non-Executive Chair of AIA Australia, said: “I would like to congratulate Damien Mu on his appointment as CEO of AIA Australia. Damien has been instrumental in our growth, and this is a thoroughly well-deserved appointment. The Board of Directors and I look forward to working with him when he starts his position in August. In addition, I want to personally thank Peter for his leadership over the last three years. Like Damien, our growth in the Australian market could not have been achieved without his hard work and dedication, and we wish him all the best in his new position at AIA Group.”

Peter Crewe’s career with AIA spans 20 years and a range of senior management roles, including those involving the development and implementation of employee benefits programs.

Peter is very familiar with AIA’s corporate lines of business having been Chief Operating Officer of the Company’s Group Corporate Solutions business in 2008, a time during which he concurrently held the positions of Managing Director of AIA Pension and Trustee Company Limited and CEO of AIA Trustee (Company) Limited.