Insignia Financial has picked up talent from life insurer TAL to create a new strategy and innovation team with a focus on driving innovation in retirement solutions for the MLC Wealth brand. 

Andrew Howard has been appointed as executive director of the new team. Howard has 25 years of experience in superannuation, advice, life insurance and asset management.  

He was previously chief commercial officer of group life and investments at TAL Australia. Prior to that he was chief operating officer and interim CEO at Rest.  

Howard is joined in the newly-formed team by Ashton Jones, Scott Manson and Jeffrey Hopson. 

Jones joins as director – customer innovation and was most recently general manager of growth, retirement and wealth partnerships at TAL. 

Manson joins as head of technical solutions with 18 years of experience across superannuation, investments and retirement. He was previously head of pricing at TAL. 

Hopson has been with Insignia since 2021 as head of enterprise strategy and has over 18 years of experience in strategy roles at NAB and Deutsche Bank. 

Insignia finalised its acquisition of MLC Wealth off big four bank NAB in 2021, while MLC Life was sold to Japanese insurer Nippon Life in 2016. 

Dave Woodall (CEO superannuation) and Renee Howie (chief customer officer) also commenced in their roles on 1 November, following the announcement of their appointments in July. 

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