6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 - The Winners
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6th Asia Trusted Life Agents &
Advisers Awards 2021
The Winners
Organisers
Co-Organiser Strategic Partner Sponsors
Organisers
Co-Organiser Strategic Partner
Sponsors
Supporting Organisations
CONTENTS
2
Messages
20
Employee Benefits
28
Insurance Agent
Consultant of the Year of the Year
6
The Judges
21
InsurTech of the Year
30
Young Executive
of the Year
15
Rookie Insurance Agent
22
Digital Transformation
31
Insurance Company
of the Year of the Year of the Year
16
Rookie Insurance Agency
24
Employee Benefits
32
Executive Champion
Leader of the Year Provider of the Year of the Year
17
Financial Adviser
25
Inspirational Leader
34
Partners
of the Year of the Year
18
Bank Partner
26
Insurance Agency
38
The Finalists
of the Year Leader of the Year
19
Digital Agent
27
Lifetime Achievement
of the Year Award
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v1
MESSAGE – PATRON
Going the extra mile
A
s the founding patron As the world shifts its focus to finalists, and thank them for their
of the Asia Trusted repairing, rebuilding and re- commitment to the industry, and the
Life Agents & Advisers energising economies, the role of immense contribution they make to
Awards, it is a great financial services has never been customers and to the communities
pleasure to see these awards enter more critical. Insurance is central in which we work and live. I would
their sixth year, particularly in these to this due to, among other things, also like to acknowledge the
challenging times. the requirement for long-term prestigious panel of judges for their
capital and the need to manage hard work and the tough decisions
COVID-19 has brought the world new kinds of risk. The last year has required to select the winners who
together with a common focus – demonstrated the tenacity and will be revealed tonight.
health and wellness. As this virtual agility of the insurance industry
awards ceremony demonstrates, to overcome unprecedented My thanks to Asia Insurance
agents and advisers are accessing challenges. So, it is even more Review and Asia Advisers Network
new products, digital solutions important we recognise and for continuing to recognise and
and thinking outside of the box to celebrate the significant work and celebrate excellence.
ensure the wellbeing of their clients. contribution of agents and advisers
I am delighted to see how agents And finally, hearty congratulations to
who are pushing the boundaries of Asia Insurance Review for reaching
and advisers are helping their clients excellence in the “new normal”.
to live healthier lives by embracing their 30th anniversary milestone
technology and innovation to In a particularly challenging year, I of serving the market. It is a great
increase coverage and help to close would like to congratulate all our achievement.
the protection gap.
Mark Tucker
Group Chairman,
HSBC
2 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021
MESSAGE – ORGANISER
Saluting the industry agents
O
n behalf of Asia Advisers This is the second year we are we received some 280 entries from
Network and Asia hosting the awards as a virtual over 60 companies in 17 markets.
Insurance Review, we are presentation ceremony. We The awards are highly sought after
so proud to be hosting are determined to showcase and the toughest trophies to bag.
the 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents these heroes, their courage and So everyone is a winner in our eyes
and Advisers Awards (the awards). commitment to the cause. It is the and you are truly respected as the
Especially during this continued X-factor and persistence of these soldiers of the insurance industry.
pandemic which has pained the agents and advisers that make them
world for over a year, it is indeed stand out and in turn, promote the We hope you stand tall and be
encouraging to see how agents and value of insurance. proud of your achievements. We
advisers have continued to service cannot wait to see you breaking the
their clients despite the challenges, To be part of this noble process ceiling to be even better in your
despite the lockdowns and think of recognising them is indeed journey from here. The industry
‘outside the box’ to ensure their humbling for us. We thank the depends on you.
commitment is unfazed. distinguished panel of judges,
without whom the awards would not We salute all of you and wish you
The role agents and advisers hold its prestige. The transparent the very best in what we hope will
play in the insurance value chain and legitimate process remains the be a post-COVID world.
is now even more crucial, given fortress of strength of the awards, All the best and stay safe.
the devastating toll of COVID-19. with EY as the independent auditor.
The need for insurance is now We are truly grateful for the support
even more important and despite of our patron Mark Tucker, our
tighter wallets and the recessionary strategic partner AIA as well as
climate, agents have continued full our sponsors, Allianz and Union
steam ahead to ensure clients are Insurance for their support, not to
protected. mention our co-organiser LIMRA.
We salute and congratulate all of We applaud every nominee for
them for going the extra mile and their guts to stand forth and be
for their tenacity. counted. Despite the pandemic,
Sheela Suppiah
CEO
Asia Insurance Review,
Middle East Insurance Review &
Asia Advisers Network
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v3
MESSAGE – CO-ORGANISER
Congratulations to the ambassadors
of the industry
I
extend my most sincere clients and our industry. Leaders As we begin to emerge from one
congratulations to all of you! The like you shape the evolution of our of the most trying crises our world
individuals and organisations business, and you should be so has ever faced, I feel great hope
recognised today are outstanding proud of all you have achieved. and optimism for our future. More
ambassadors for the financial than ever, the value of our industry’s
services industry – demonstrating In reflecting on the past year and honourable mission is clear. I know
the highest levels of professionalism, the unimaginable challenges it you will continue to give individuals,
knowledge, and commitment. presented, I believe that one families, and businesses a powerful
consistent theme is how much sense of financial security. I know
LIMRA is honoured to take part in stronger we all are when we work you will continue to help people
celebrating the best and brightest together. Partnership is the key when they need you most. And I
financial professionals in Asia at concept that comes to mind, and know, in the spirit of partnership,
the 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents it will remain critical to our shared together we all will create and
& Advisers Awards ceremony. Our success. It is a valuable foundation experience a brighter tomorrow.
mission is to advance the financial in many contexts.
services industry by empowering our Thank you for the important work
members with knowledge, insights, For instance, LIMRA is extremely you do each day. And once again,
connections, and solutions. A key pleased to partner with Asia congratulations!
element of this mission, through Insurance Review in outstanding
events like this, is to ensure we events such as these awards. We also
applaud those of you who are truly take seriously the strong partnerships
leading this advancement. we have built with our member
companies around the globe. And
Winning this award shows that certainly, consumers need trusted
you have done the difficult and partnerships with their agents and
admirable work of earning your advisers more than ever before.
clients’ trust. You play an essential Through all of these relationships, we
role in helping them protect their have persevered not only to survive,
families, making contributions that but also to navigate to a better
have a positive impact on your position moving forward.
Paul Arrowsmith
President,
International Operations
LIMRA, LOMA, and LL Global
4 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021
MESSAGE – STRATEGIC PARTNER
Transforming into a lifelong partner
and adviser
I
would like to congratulate all the experience being hyper-relevant I am positive that with your hard
agents and advisers that have and each recommendation being work and with the execution
been recognised at the Asia highly personalised. of new technologies, we will
Trusted Life Agents & Advisers engage, monetise, and retain
Gone are the days when agents and
Awards 2021. new generations of digitally savvy
advisers could sell a pre-packaged
customers for decades to come.
I am extremely proud of how you policy and then move on to the
have responded to the ongoing next sales lead. Today, customers Once again, congratulations to
pandemic, including adopting demand a partner to be with all the nominees and the winners.
digital technologies, to provide them at every stage of their health Let’s continue to fight hard for our
peace of mind to our customers journey: predict, prevent, diagnose, communities and serve millions
when they needed us the most. It is treat and recover. more people across Asia.
this professionalism, dedication, and
Leading multinational technology
resilience during these challenging
companies took advantage of the
times that has made you all winners
initial lockdowns in early 2020 to
this year.
show the world what outstanding
It is apparent that with greater customer service looks like on a
health awareness has come an day-to-day basis. The life insurance
increased appreciation of the industry must take heed of their
demand for insurance protection, example, or it will be left behind.
providing us with a unique chance
Ever since I joined the industry,
to truly transform into agents of
I have held the conviction that
change in the communities we
insurance had the potential to
serve. Asia needs you more than
protect and even bring significant,
ever before.
positive outcomes to people in our
Structural shifts and evolving communities. Today, our role in
consumer mindsets present an meeting our customers’ long-term
extraordinary opportunity for you savings and protection needs is
to provide your customers with more important than ever.
seamless interactions, with every
Bill Lisle
Regional Chief Executive and
Group Chief Distribution Officer,
AIA Group
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v5
The Judges
Alison Salka Andy M Law Anurag Gupta
Senior Vice President and Director of President, Financial Services Managers National Head, Agency Sales,
Member Benefits Research, LIMRA, Association (FSMA) Max Life Insurance Company Limited
LOMA, Secure Retirement Institute
Mr Law has been serving as FSMA Mr Gupta is the national head-
Ms Salka joined LIMRA in 2012 committee member since 2016. agency sales of Max Life Insurance
and is responsible for driving the He has served the committee as its overseeing agency businesses in
strategy and direction of its global honorary secretary, vice presidency India.
research program. She oversees a for two terms and is recently serving
team of more than 85 professionals his second term as the president. Since joining the Max Life group
in LIMRA’s Member Benefits and He also served as education chair in 2002, he has served in a
Research division who conduct and helped to organise the annual variety of senior positions across
benchmark studies, discovery learning conference, Singapore agency, business development,
research, and thought leadership Agency Managers’ Conference. strategy, transformation, product
designed to help companies better FSMA’s motto is to lead and to management across life and health
understand industry issues and serve, and Mr Law, along with the insurance business. Prior to moving
trends. Ms Salka previously led the dynamic committee members in to insurance, he has worked in
retirement research and competitive FSMA, are committed to walking telecom and media sector.
intelligence team at Prudential and this journey with its members.
was also a director of retirement He holds an MBA in international
research and business analytics at On the agency front, Mr Law is a business from an Indian university.
MassMutual. She has a Master’s financial services director (FSD) with
degree from the College of William AIA Singapore. He is prominent
and Mary and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt in the employee benefits space,
University. having been featured in Bloomberg
magazine four times in 2016-2019
for his district’s achievements. His
most recent achievement is the AIA
Corporate Solutions Top FSD in
2021. He is also a certified financial
planner and affiliate of the Society
of Trust and Estate Planner.
6 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021
The Judges
Anusha Thavarajah Banyong Witayaweerasak Benedict Sison
CEO, Life & Health, Allianz Asia Pacific Immediate Past Chairman, APFinSA President, Philippine Life Insurance
Association (PLIA) / CEO and Country
Ms Thavarajah is Allianz’s regional Mr Witayaweerasak has served in Head, Sun Life Philippines
CEO, life & health for Asia Pacific. the Asia Pacific Financial Services
She is responsible for the profit and Association (APFinSA) as its hon Mr Sison is the CEO and country
loss and functional development of treasurer from 2015 to 2019 and head of Sun Life Financial
Allianz’s life & health business in Asia, served as chairman of APFinSA Philippines. He is also the chairman
focused on advancing the segment’s during 2019-2021. He is now of the Sun Life Prosperity family of
strong growth to meet Allianz Asia’s the immediate past chairman funds, and of Sun Life Foundation.
long-term strategic priorities in the of APFinSA. He has a wealth of
experience in the financial industry In addition, he is currently the
region. In addition, she is a member
and has worked in the insurance field president of the Philippine Life
of the company’s Regional Executive
for 35 years. He is actively involved Insurance Association. Mr Sison
Board, responsible for setting and
in many social activities and projects received his MBA from the
executing Allianz’s growth strategy in serving the community in Thailand. University of California Riverside
Asia, chairperson of Allianz Ayudhya At present, he is a senior district
Assurance & Allianz Taiwan Life, vice Graduate School of Management
manager in AIA (Thailand). in California, USA, on a full tuition
chairperson of Allianz China Life and
is on the boards of Allianz’s entities in Mr Banyong was in the committee academic scholarship. He was also
Malaysia and Philippines. of a public company, Community bestowed the prestigious George
Pharmacy Public Company, for more W. DuBois Memorial Award for
Ms Thavarajah joined Allianz in than 10 years. He has been invited his scholastic achievement. He
December 2019 from AIA, where to serve in education working groups also has a degree in BS Business
she was the CEO. In addition to from both the office of Insurance Administration from the University
its three main business lines – Commission and Thai Life Assurance of the Philippines, where he
agency, partnership distribution Association. He is a business graduated with Magna Cum Laude
and corporate solutions, Anusha columnist for a leading business honours. In December 2012, he was
oversaw AIA Malaysia’s takaful, newspaper in Thailand. He has honoured by the institution with the
general insurance, pension and asset written many articles about financial Most Distinguished Alumnus Award.
management, and health services and business issues for more than
units. Anusha was also the president 20 years and he is the author of the
book, “Financial Fraud”.
of the Life Insurance Association
of Malaysia, chairperson of the He was the president of Thai
Malaysian Insurance Institute and Association of Insurance and
became the first woman CEO in the Financial Advisors (THAIFA) from
AIA Group when she was appointed 2009 to 2011. During his term, he
to head AIA Malaysia in June 2015. revitalised the Fellow Chartered
Financial Practitioner (FChFP)
She has almost 30 years’ experience course which is now popular among
in the financial services industry Thai insurance agents. Currently,
having served in various senior Mr Witayaweerasak is the advisor
leadership roles in the UK, Hong to the THAIFA Board. He also
Kong and Malaysia, and is a serves as a committee member
fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, of the International Certification
United Kingdom and fellow of the and Standard Board which is a key
Malaysian Insurance Institute. standing committee of APFinSA,
governing the FChFP curriculum.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v7
The Judges
Bruce de Broize Carlos Lee Seng Teck Davey Lee
Regional Head of Distribution, President (2021/2022), Insurance and President (2021), The Life Underwriters
Generali Asia Financial Practitioners Association of Association of Hong Kong /
Singapore (IFPAS) / Co-Chairman, 18th Senior Regional Director, Prudential
Mr de Broize is the regional head Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress Hong Kong Limited
of distribution for Generali Asia (APLIC) 2022 Singapore
based in Hong Kong. He oversees Having been in the insurance arena
life, health and P&C distribution As the President of IFPAS, for more than three decades, Mr
for Generali’s operations across Mr Lee oversee the various Lee has served the industry by
eight markets in Asia, including initiatives by the organisation taking up the leadership in various
China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and is responsible for managing industry associations. He has
Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Malaysia the wellbeing of the Singapore been serving at LUAHK since 2008
and the Philippines. He has financial advisory industry. Together and is currently the president of
extensive distribution expertise with his team, he will continue LUAHK. He aims to promote the
drawn from over 32 years of building the association as the sustainable development of the
international experience in various national representative of industry industry by serving LUAHK as well
senior operational distribution practitioners. as CEPA Business Opportunities
management and consulting roles Development Alliance and being
with major life and P&C insurance IFPAS represents the 18,000 a committee member of Hong
companies in Asia. As a result, strong group of financial advisers Kong Management Association –
he has a deep knowledge of the in Singapore. It enforces strictly Insurance Industry Committee.
Asia market, with over 21 years’ to ensure a high standard of
experience in the Asia region. membership, as well as to protect In addition, Mr Lee played an active
the public’s interests, the institution role in the regulatory development
Mr de Broize has played leading of life insurance and the institution of the industry by serving as co-
roles in developing and growing of insurance and financial services. opted and committee member of
profitable distribution operations, Insurance Agents Registration Board
including distribution start-ups, JVs, Through a very close-knit be-fore the Insurance Authority’s
M&’s, and managing turnarounds working relationship with various takeover in 2019.
in both developed and developing government agencies like Monetary
markets across the region. He has Authority of Singapore, Prime
extensive hands-on operational Minister’s Officer, Ministry of Health,
distribution management Ministry of Culture, Community &
experience in leading large and Youth, People’s Association and
diverse intermediary distribution many more, the association has
operations, including professional garnered incredible support from
independent agencies, strategic different stakeholders and Insurer
partners, partner intermediaries and companies in Singa-pore (AIA,
career agency distribution. Prudential, Great Eastern, Income,
Manulife) over the years.
Prior to joining Generali, he was the
regional chief distribution officer for
AXA Asia, and prior to that regional
chief agency officer for AIG in the
Asia Pacific region responsible for all
agency business, including China.
8 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021The Judges
James Liu Jeslyn Tan Jude Gomes
President, Insurance and Financial President, Singapore Insurance Institute CEO, Union Assurance
Practitioners Association of Taiwan (SII)
(IFPA) Mr Gomes has over 28 years of
Currently serving as president of the rich financial services experience
Mr Liu is senior executive advisor to Singapore Insurance Association, working across key Asian markets.
the FinTech Research Center of the Ms Tan is a collaborative and Previously, he was heading
NCC University, cooperating with versatile business leader with Manulife China Bank Life Assurance
financial institutions and technology international and cross-cultural Philippines as CEO and president.
firms in implementing digital work experience. She has extensive He has been with Manulife
transformation, and chairman of experience in a wide variety of Group since 2012, pioneering
IFPA Taiwan, an Asian association of roles within the insurance industry bancassurance in Vietnam as VP and
life insurance agents. Previously, he including consulting, distribution, head of partnership distribution.
was CEO of AEGON Taiwan, having human resources, operations, and
built the company from scratch customer service. She has a flair for Mr Gomes was a founding member
to a $30bn asset company; and identifying talent for the right role of Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance
expanded into the Asian region. and is passionate about coaching as senior VP and head of channel
and developing people. and was subsequently seconded
to Hong Kong at HSBC Insurance
(Asia-Pacific) Regional Business
Development, working across APAC
markets.
He was among the pioneers at
India’s first privatised Life Insurer,
HDFC Standard Life and led wealth
management for Centurion Bank of
Punjab.
Mr Gomes is recipient of Manulife’s
Global Star of Excellence Award
in 2013 and 2015 and Standard
Chartered Bank’s Regional Award in
1999. He was also awarded the CEO
of the Year in 2020 by CEO monthly
magazine, United Kingdom.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v9The Judges
Keith Richards Laura Hoi Mark O’Dell
CEO, Personal Finance Society / Zone Chair, South East Asia, CEO, Life Insurance Association of
Chief Membership Officer, 2020-2021 / Million Dollar Round Table Malaysia
Chartered Insurance Institute (MDRT) Membership Communications
Committee, Qualifying & Life Member Mr O’Dell is the CEO of Life
A recognised leader within the Insurance Association of Malaysia
insurance and financial services Having started her career in 2002, (LIAM) since 2 January 2019. A
sectors, Mr Richards has 40 Ms Hoi is a veteran in the financial permanent resident of Malaysia, he
years’ experience operating planning industry. She is also a 17- has over 41 years of experience in
at the executive level across year qualifying and life member of the life insurance business (including
the prestigious Million Dollar Round 27 years in Asia) with an excellent
manufacturing, distribution and
Table (MDRT), with one Court of the track record in spearheading the
regulation for insurance, financial
Table and is recognised as one of a transformation of the life insurance
planning and professional bodies. handful of private wealth consultants industry. He holds both the
in her company to serve the high- chartered life underwriter (CLU) and
He established a strong media profile net-worth segment. She values the chartered financial consultant
whilst representing Tenet Group as the importance of comprehensive (ChFC) designations from the
group distribution and development financial planning and finds great American College. He is also a
director, prior to which he was head fulfilment being able to help her certified financial planner (CFP). In
of retail for Royal London Group. clients and their families with her 2006, he was named the Personality
Actively engaged in the promotion financial expertise. An advocate of of the Year by the Asia Insurance
of financial services within the UK continuous education, Ms Hoi is a Review for his contribution to
and internationally, he sits on the chartered financial consultant as well the industry and his leadership in
board of the European Financial as an affiliate member of the Society corporate social responsibility.
Planning Association (EFPA), chairs of Trusts and Estate Planners and
specialises in advising professionals
the Pension Advice Taskforce, is In October 2018, Mr O’Dell was
from the finance sector, medical
chairman of TISA Exco for Adviser honoured with the ‘Outstanding
professionals as well as business
Protocol and chairs the Financial Leaders in Asia’ award from ACES
owners in the area of wealth
Vulnerability Taskforce as well as (Asia Corporate Excellence and
management and distribution.
being recognised as one of the top Sustainability Awards). Prior to
100 influential figures internationally, Ms Hoi firmly believes in and joining LIAM, he served as senior
by International Adviser. practices the ‘whole person vice president, Southeast Asia of
concept’ – she believes that a Manulife from November 2012 to
Mr Richards was appointed CEO successful life is one where a person January 2016, overseeing Singapore,
enjoys and grows continuously in Malaysia and Philippines during
of the Personal Finance Society
the seven different areas of their which the territories experienced
(PFS) in 2013 and additionally
lives. Having served on various strong growth. He retired from
appointed as managing director for Manulife in 2018 after serving as the
the Chartered Insurance Institute committees within the MDRT for
more than 15 years, she is currently group CEO for Manulife Malaysia.
in 2016. In addition to guiding the During his 27 years in Asia, Mr O’Dell
the zone chair for Southeast Asia
operational and strategic evolution MDRT Member Communications has run life operations in Malaysia,
of the PFS, he has developed Committee (MCC) where she Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan.
greater government and regulatory oversees the various MCCs in
engagement for the financial eight countries to raise the level He was also appointed the president
services and insurance professions of professionalism in the industry. of the Life Insurance Association of
and brought enhancements to She is also regularly invited to give Singapore and the Financial Planning
membership benefits and its CPD speeches and workshops, to help Association of Singapore in 2007-
programmes, as well as launching bring up the standards of financial 2008 and currently sits on a number
key consumer initiatives. practitioners around the world. of boards and charities.
10 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021The Judges
Mark V T Saunders Patrick Peck Paul Arrowsmith
Group Executive, Group Chief Strategy Managing Director, Regional Agency / President, International Operations,
& Corporate Development Officer, FA and Bancassurance, Great Eastern LIMRA, LOMA, and LL Global
AIA Group Limited Life Assurance Co Ltd
Based in Asia since 1999, Mr
Mr Saunders is a group executive Mr Peck is the managing director, Arrowsmith’s former roles include
committee member of AIA regional agency/financial advisory head of retail bank and wealth
Group with responsibility for the and bancassurance, where he management at HSBC Singapore,
group’s strategy and corporate is responsible for driving the deputy regional head of insurance
development, including M&A, growth and governance of the at HSBC Asia Pacific, HSBC head of
corporate transactions, and strategic agency, financial advisory and insurance South East Asia, CEO of
partnership deals underpinning bancassurance channels across the HSBC Insurance Singapore, country
ecosystem development for the Great Eastern Group in Singapore, head of AXA Indonesia and deputy
group. Having joined AIA in 2014 Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. CEO of Allianz South Korea.
as chief strategy and corporate
development officer, he is currently a Previously, he led various types
board director of various companies of distribution and he has over a
within the group and has been decade of experience in the life and
responsible for its corporate general insurance sectors, where he
solutions, group L&H and healthcare drove the agency, financial advisory,
businesses across all 18 markets. bancassurance, partnership and
He has also served as group chief HNW distribution business.
marketing officer, bringing together
strategy and marketing centred He has a Master of Business
around customer propositions driving Administration from the University
evolution of customer-centricity of Leicester, UK and a Bachelor of
of the business and the purpose- Science (Business Management)
led strategy of helping people live from the University of Northeastern,
healthier, longer, better lives. USA. Mr Peck is also an associate
financial consultant.
Mr Saunders has been a trusted
advisor of boards and board
committees of leading insurers in
Asia holding numerous executive
and INED board positions and
memberships of a multitude
of insurance-related, actuarial,
regulatory and professional
committees. He has been a member
of Hong Kong’s Financial Services
Development Council New Business
Committee and was a member of
the HKSAR Government Financial
Secretary’s FSTB Working Group on
Long Term Fiscal Planning and the
statutory body, Insurance Advisory
Committee.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v 11The Judges
Paul McNamara Rishi Srivastava Rotha Chan
Editorial Director, Asia Insurance Review CEO, Group Agency Distribution, CEO, FWD Cambodia
and Middle East Insurance Review AIA Group
Mr Chan is the 2018 Asia Young
Mr McNamara is a journalist, Mr Srivastava is the CEO, group Leader of the Year Award Winner
author and biographer with agency distribution, AIA Group from and the 2017 Special Jury Award
extensive experience in Asia, the October 2020, responsible for AIA Winner by Asia Insurance Review.
UK, the Arabian Gulf and Australia Group’s agency distribution function. He served as a member of the
covering the wholesale financial Prior to this, he was the CEO and judging panel of the 4th Asia
markets. Over the years he has managing director of Tata AIA Life Trusted Life Agents & Advisers
worked for the Financial Times Insurance (Tata AIA) since August Awards 2019.
Group, Fairfax Media, Euromoney 2018. Under his leadership Tata
Institutional Investor, CPI Financial AIA Life built sustainable business Having been in the life insurance
and Eaglemont Media. His areas practices that served the community industry in Cambodia since
of specialisation include insurance, through protection. He is also firm the inception in 2012, he was
reinsurance, Islamic finance, believer in people being core to agency officer (CAO) for Manulife
investment banking, project sustained purposeful growth. Cambodia and led the largest
finance, trade finance, wealth and most professional agency
management, private equity, hedge Mr Srivastava has over 20 years of force in the country measured by
funds and alternative investments, experience in agency distribution. headcounts and the MDRT number.
the Middle East banking and Some of his other previous
finance industry, GCC capital roles were chief of proprietary Currently, he is the CEO of FWD
markets and the world of interest channels, distribution strategy, Life Cambodia. Mr Chan has
rate securities. He is also the author product, marketing and corporate earned prestigious awards such as
of numerous books including The communication, Tata AIA; Manulife’s Global Star of Excellence,
History of Banking in the UAE, the marketing director (life & health), Asia Star of Excellence and Share
History of the National Bank of AXA Indonesia; general manager Your Humanity Awards.
Abu Dhabi, Dubai Islamic Bank: 35 and head of non-resident Indian
Glorious Years and many others. and global remittances, ICICI Bank;
and chief agency officer, ICICI
Prudential Life.
Mr Srivastava has been conferred
with M.A. (Economics) and a
post-graduate qualification in
marketing and completed the
Global Advanced Management
Programme from Kellogg School of
Management.
12 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021The Judges
Sara Lamsam Selina Lau Shalini Pavithran
President and CEO, Muang Thai Life Chief Executive, The Hong Kong CEO, Malaysian Insurance Institute,
Assurance Public Company Limited Federation of Insurers (HKFI) ASEAN Insurance Training & Research
(MTL) Institute
Ms Lau is the chief executive of the
Mr Sara Lamsam is the president Hong Kong Federation of Insurers Ms Pavithran is the CEO of the
and CEO of Muang Thai Life (HKFI), a trade body with 139 Malaysian Insurance Institute (MII),
Assurance (MTL). With over 28 years insurers operating in Hong Kong the leading professional body
of experience, he has led MTL to which represents over 90% of the and education Institution for the
become a leader of Thailand’s life market share. Malaysian insurance industry. MII
insurance industry. Mr Lamsam has is highly respected as a regional
taken the leading role to enhance Selina has accumulated extensive centre offering an extensive range
the life insurance business with management and communications of professional qualifications,
innovative ideas, holistic thinking, experience in the field of insurance certification and training
and change management and since she joined the HKFI in programmes catered for insurance
transformation leadership to tackle 1997. In addition to overseeing professionals. MII also administers
major business challenges today. the operations of the HKFI and the licensing examinations for
its 40+ technical committees and intermediaries namely insurance
Moreover, he has been actively various consumer education and agents, brokers, loss adjusters and
involved in the enhancement communications projects, she also financial planners.
of rules and regulations. He has spearheaded a number of significant
worked as the president of the initiatives for the industry, including Ms Pavithran also serves as the CEO
Thai Life Assurance Association the Insurance Fraud Prevention of the ASEAN Insurance Training
and worked with the Office of Claims Database, the award- & Research Institute (AITRI) in view
Insurance Commission (OIC) to set winning Motor Insurance DLT-based of MII being given the mandate as
a strategic roadmap to set new Authentication System (MIDAS), the secretariat of AITRI. AITRI is a
standards for the sustainable life the virtual onboarding platform for non-profit organisation established
insurance industry. He has served the distribution of life insurance by the Insurance Regulators of
in many business positions in the products, the Hong Kong Insurance the 10 ASEAN member countries
insurance industry and the financial Awards, etc. and serves as a regional centre for
sector such as the chairman of insurance education and research
the Federation of Thai Insurance Externally, she is a council member focusing on capacity building of
Organizations, the chairman of the of the Institute of Big Data regulators and supervisors in the
Thai Financial Planners Association, Governance and Road Safety region.
the managing director of Life Council. She also serves as member
Insurance Fund, the advisor of the of the Insurance Training Advisory Prior to joining MII, Ms Pavithran
Society of Actuaries of Thailand, and Committee of the Qualifications spent over 20 years of her career in
the advisor of the Board of Trade of Framework, Road Safety Campaign various sectors within the financial
Thailand. Committee and Cyberport Academy services industry. She holds a
Advisory Group for FinTech. She Bachelor of Economics degree from
Currently, he has been studying is also a member of the Education the University of Malaya, a Bachelor
at the National Defence College Forum of the International Union of of Laws degree from the University
of Thailand and holds academic Marine Insurance and its Asia Hub. of London and has completed the
positions such as the advisor to the Certificate of Legal Practice.
president of Association of Capital
Market Academy.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v 13The Judges
Stephen Appleyard Steven Fong Willison So Yu
Chief of Distribution Hub, AXA Asia General Manager, Distribution, 2020 National President,
Sun Life Hong Kong Limited Life Underwriters Association of the
Mr Appleyard joined AXA in 2018 Philippines
as head of distribution Asia having With over 20-year experience in
worked across Asia for the past the industry, Mr Fong has served Mr Yu has over 11 years’ experience
18 years in managing director, in a variety of senior management as a life insurance professional in the
country management and regional positions at both local and Philippines. During these years, he
management roles. He has a finance international insurance companies has qualified for the Million Dollar
background but joined the life across distribution channels Round Table (MDRT) for the past
insurance industry 24 years ago in including agency and brokerage eight years straight, with two Court
the UK as an insurance agent. as well as distribution training. He of the Table qualifications as well.
spearheads strategic initiatives to
His extensive experience includes drive quality business growth in He is a registered financial planner,
roles in Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia agency and brokerage channels that a fellow chartered financial
and Hong Kong where he was CEO supports the company’s medium-to- practitioner, a certified trust and
of partnership distribution for AIA long term success. estate planner, a certified wealth
across their 17 markets. He has planner and a certified estate
also been country manager for Mr Fong joined Sun Life Hong planner of the Philippines, having
AIA, Allianz and has run one of the Kong in January 2017 and has held earned all these designations over
leading publicly listed life insurers various positions including head of the past eight years.
in Thailand, Siam Commercial Bank agency business development and
Life. A growth market distribution was promoted to the chief agency He served as the past president of
expert, he brings this wealth of officer in 2018. He is currently the Life Underwriters Association
experience and market knowledge general manager, distribution. of the Philippines in 2020 and
to the judging panel. currently sits as an area chair for the
He has a master’s degree in finance MDRT membership communications
– wealth management from The committee in the Philippines.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
and a bachelor’s degree in business Willison is a loving father to two
administration – finance from young boys, Warren and Liam, and a
California State University, Fullerton, devoted husband to his wife, Jo-An.
USA. He is also a fellow, life
management institute (FLMI) and
associate, customer service (ACS).
14 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021Rookie Insurance Agent of the Year
Chan Fun, Nicholas
Manulife Hong Kong
For achieving Court of the Table status within six months as a rookie
and Top of the Table in the following successive years; for capitalising
on his own experience to reach out to people in the same age group;
and inspiring his fellow agents and helping to promote the culture of
young MDRTs.
A
fter leaving the position adviser – he recognised that he could resonate with millennials and young
of a TV host in June professionals like himself who struggled to start their journey of personal
2018, at the age of 23, finance with the lack of relevant knowledge and a trustworthy agent. He
Nicholas took a leap of realised that educating his clients clears up a lot of misconceptions towards
faith to enter the insurance industry. the image of an agent as well as the whole industry. He also uses his
Despite having no prior knowledge Instagram account to record the bittersweet experiences of being an agent
of finance and sales, he pushed in the hopes that it will allow his clients to get to know who they are trusting
forward with fearless determination their money with.
and a desire to learn, which helped
The unprecedented challenges that 2020 brought spurred him to develop
him achieve his first COT within six
new ideas as he shifted his focus to investment-linked policies, aiming to
months as a rookie, making him the
help youngsters to grow their wealth in a manageable and sustainable way,
youngest COT qualifier in Manulife
while empowering them to start investing at a young age. He also designed
Hong Kong. In 2019, despite the
a curriculum for young people with the company’s fund platform, providing
social unrests in Hong Kong, he
courses from investment basics like reading fund fact sheets, to designing a
finished achieved his first TOT and
portfolio that fits their risk level. This interactive way of selling that engages
in 2020 achieved TOT for a second
his clients helped him achieve his TOT by October last year.
time despite the challenges of
COVID-19. And even with less than three years in the industry, Nicholas has been able
to inspire fellow agents to go beyond their imaginations and limitations. This
Nicholas also learned to capitalise
motivated him to take part in building the Young Round Table Committee
on his lack of familiarity with finance
in the company, to promote the culture of young MDRTs, while attending
prior to becoming a financial
sharing sections in over 50 agencies over the last year.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v 15Rookie Insurance Agency Leader
of the Year
Nguyen Thi Van
Manulife Vietnam
For taking the initiative to improve public perception of life insurance;
for building a strong team and recording outstanding performance in
such a short period; and for instilling customer-centric values in her
team.
V
an has demonstrated inherent shift in attitudes that will address the protection gap and benefit the
herself to be a high wider community. Her focus on greater societal issues such as the protection
achiever and an excellent gap is also how she stands out in the Manulife community.
leader. She joined Manulife
As a self-driven person, Van has demonstrated herself to be a high achiever
Vietnam in February 2018. She was
and strong leader. She grew her team from 19 in 2019 to 120 advisers in
inspired to explore a career change
2020. She and her team contributed over VND19bn ($828,420) in first year
after witnessing a colleague facing
premiums in 2020, with a growth rate of 253% compared to 2019.
financial challenges with their son’s
hospital bills. Van’s team currently includes 12 agents who qualified for MDRT, and 17 high
performing financial consultants, representing almost a quarter of her team.
While Van understood the value of
Due to her outstanding performance, she has been promoted five times in
insurance, she that wished others
just three years, from a financial adviser to unit manager (2018), to senior
also could see how it could help
manager and district manager (2019) to senior district manager (2020) and
them during difficult times. That
now area manager.
experience cemented her mission
to help lessen the financial burden Van is a customer-centric leader, instilling the values and benefits of service
and heartache brought about by a and experience. For Van, the human touch is equally important and giving
lack of insurance or awareness of its customers a memorable experience is how she and the team leave a lasting
benefits. impression. She also encourages the team to widen their social circles and
find opportunities to protect people, improve their knowledge through
Van’s personal mission is to help
continuous learning, be fast adopters of new technology and leverage social
change the public’s perception of
media to build their presence with younger demographics.
life insurance in Vietnam, driving an
16 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021Financial Adviser of the Year
Lee Zi Yi, Michelle
Manulife Financial Advisers Singapore
For using her position and knowledge to empower women financially
and strive towards greater economic and social equality; for upgrading
herself with the necessary skills to enhance the quality of her service
to clients during the pandemic; and for dedicating time, effort and
resources to social initiatives.
O
ver the past year, self-sufficiency and empowerment, there are no limits to what women can
Michelle has established accomplish and she hopes to continue doing her part to empower women to
a substantial following achieve financial wellness
of more than 20,000
In October 2020, she collaborated with United Women Singapore for their
followers on her Instagram where
Empowered Women Series on Wealth Building, where she pledged her time,
she consistently curates educational
effort and 100% of the proceeds from her webinars on financial literacy to
content to educate her clients and
United Women Singapore and successfully raised S$1,000 ($755) to support
followers on financial literacy. She
UWS’ flagship Girls2Pioneers STEM programme and their local anti-violence
also achieved COT in 2020.
initiatives.
As a financially literate woman with
During the pandemic, Michelle sought to upgrade herself with the necessary
the skills and expertise to grow
skills to gain a competitive advantage and enhance the quality of service for
wealth, she utilises those assets to
her clients. She implemented a robust infrastructure that supports various
collaborate with women-owned
swings in financial activities such as conducting online zoom calls and
businesses to provide financial
hosting webinars, which proved to be beneficial for her clients.
literacy webinars and Instagram live
series for women to have access to Michelle has also been volunteering with Meals On Wheels, delivering
a robust and meaningful financial packed lunch boxes to senior citizens living in rented or single room flats.
education. As her following on Instagram continued to grow, she utilised her knowledge
and expertise in the financial field and launched her first ever webinar on
She firmly believes that investing in
“How to Start Investing” for her followers. She managed to raise S$1,170
women’s financial literacy is the key
from the investment webinar and 100% of the amount was donated to
to achieving economic and social
Singapore Children Society.
equality. With greater economic
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v 17Bank Partner of the Year
Krungthai Bank, Thailand
For helping its partner insurer maintain its strong growth over the last
few years; for transforming its salespersons into insurance and financial
products specialists; and for launching initiatives that have helped its
partner insurer reach untapped segments and bring more complex
products to market.
K
rungthai Bank (KTB) and Since then, salespersons from more than 1,000 KTB branches have received
Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance intensive training from KTAXA to focus on providing protection advice, as
(KTAXA) have jointly well as tools to become insurance and financial products specialist. KTAXA
operated over the past two also launched ‘AXA Prime FP’ brand and campaign that offers additional
decades, bringing synergy and privileges and rewards to FPs who have performed well and passed KTB’s
value to Thai society by leveraging customised health & protection products training. In 2020, AXA Prime FPs
each other’s expertise. KTB’s accounted for 30% of all FPs but generated 50% of the bank’s fee income.
commitment to customer-centricity,
Last year also saw the launch of KTB’s new customer acquisition platform on
nationwide presence, strong sales
tablet, e-Solutions, that allowing FPs to comprehensively explain products
force, and professionalism have
to customers, reduce time per acquisition and strictly follow compliance
helped the insurer become one
regulation. And in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, KTB began offering
of the top life insurers in Thailand
KTAXA products on Krungthai NEXT, its mobile banking app. It also shifted
– KTAXA’s total sum assured has
its product portfolio mix from traditional savings policies to investment-
grown 12% annually over the past
linked products and health & protection.
five years and the in-force sum
insured accounted for 10% of the The FP model and new platform have helped KTB differentiate its product
market at THB2,428bn ($78bn). categories and extend health & protection products to untapped customers
who are either uninsured or under-insured. Since mid-2020, the bank’s
In mid-2019, KTAXA and KTB co-
customers have been able to purchase insurance through its branches using
ordinated a revamp of their sales
tablet or its mobile banking platform.
staff from salespersons to financial
planners (FPs) with the aim to offer The initiatives have also been successful in helping KTAXA offer more
better customer satisfaction by complex products in the Thai insurance market, with the annualised premium
providing comprehensive financial equivalent contribution from investment-linked and health & protection
solutions. products increasing from 21% to 51% of its portfolio total.
18 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021Digital Agent of the Year
Joyce Chan Ann Ni (Zeng Anni)
Prudential Assurance Company Singapore
For leveraging social media and other digital tools to grow and
improve her business; for taking the initiative to help her fellow FCs as
they transitioned into the digital era; and for her efforts in sharing her
experience and knowledge of human psychology.
J
oyce joined the insurance Joyce is also mostly digitised from end-to-end.
profession in April 2018
She utilises Goalsmapper Fact Find form prior to meeting the clients
and has since consecutively
and obtains close to 100% information for most of her clients before the
qualified for MDRT, COT
appointment. During the appointment, Joyce uses Goalsmapper, Canva and
in 2021 and was awarded Rookie
various software and data presentation tools to go through the analysis with
Insurance Agent of the Year 2020.
her clients.
Her business grew exponentially
when she started to digitise her On social media, her #DabaoLife video series pushes out key messages that
prospecting and client experience Joyce finds inspiring to her clients. This also allows potential prospects get
processes, mainly through to know Joyce prior to even meeting her and can already assess her values
establishing personal branding on and who she is as a person. As such, most of her passive business from social
social media and exploring digital media has come from quality prospects who have made the decision to work
tools. with her through her social media content.
As a strong advocate of digitalisation On the Financial Consultant (FCs) end, Joyce initiated and held training
and social media, Joyce has sessions for her company when she realised that FCs were struggling to
implemented digitalisation in every adapt to the video conference environment during the Circuit Breaker period
aspect of her business. She has and since then has trained hundreds of FCs to adapt to the new way of
also given training to thousands of doing business.
financial consultants (FCs) across Asia
In 2020, she took up over 30 speaking and sharing engagements to share
to help them adapt to digitalisation
her experiences with and train fellow FCs how to conduct business digitally.
in the new business landscape.
As a trained Human-Centred Design and User Experience practitioner, Joyce
On the client end, her business is also injects an understanding of human psychology when training FCs on
100% powered by passive referrals how to adapt to the digital era. As an MDRT Mentor in Prudential Singapore,
that mostly come through social she mentored three fellow FCs to utilise digital tools in their business. These
media. The client’s experience with three FCs are now all first-time qualifiers for MDRT 2021.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v 19Employee Benefits Consultant
of the Year
Anthony Wong
AIA International, Hong Kong
For always going beyond contractual obligations to build strong
relationships with his clients; for finding ways to innovate and
address shortcomings in the business; and for leading by example
and mentoring new people and encouraging them to pursue the
employee benefits business.
A
nthony joined AIA in 1982 Anthony sees himself as a partner to his clients and feels good about the
for his first job in Hong work he does for them. He believes that connection with them is key, and
Kong after graduating in that building a strong relationship means delivering beyond contractual
the UK and in 1984, he requirements and exceeding expectations in communication, energy, and
signed his first group insurance results. He makes absolutely sure to keep pace with developments in the HR
case. Today, as district director community to anticipate his clients’ needs and, create an open and transparent
at AIA International, he serves relationship where feedback is shared, respected and responded to.
clients of every size, from SMEs to
He also constantly looks for ways to innovate and stay ahead of the
multinationals.
competition. Recognising the protection needs of many employees as
Driven by integrity, sincerity, and well as the financial and social needs of employers, he worked with AIA to
mutual respect, he has achieved develop the StepUp medical product, which has enjoyed an overwhelmingly
MDRT status annually since 1997, positive response, and become part of the company’s core strategy to
TOT annually since 2010, and explore employee voluntary solutions. More than 10,000 of those policies
holds numerous employee benefits have been sold since, and over 12% of these StepUp policyholders have
records in AIA Group’s history purchased other life products.
including highest in-force portfolio
With a burning passion for employee benefits, Anthony always wants more
and highest premium from one
people to join him in the business and he is more than happy to help them
case. His team currently serves
along the way. With the rapid growth of the China market, the AIA China
over 44,000 members from 100
Corporate Solutions team has invited him every year to speak at their annual
corporations, with over $65m in
Employee Benefits Summit and he has also shared his stories and lessons he
annualised premiums, of which
has learned with colleagues in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines,
$52m comes from his personal
and Indonesia. He enjoys meeting young and hungry professionals, listening
portfolio.
to their perspectives and sharing his experiences with them.
20 v 6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021InsurTech of the Year
Heartzmail
For creating tools that enhance the quality of relationships between
agents and their clients; for simplifying technical terms to make it easier
for clients to understand their insurance coverage; and for developing
personal branding tools that help advisers enhance their position and
referrals.
W
hen financial data, HQ places strong emphasis on delivering touchpoints and enhancing
technology comes the quality of relationships between clients and agents. HQ’s proprietary
to mind, there are innovation, FirstPage, has helped agents consolidate a daily focused
two main types of to-do list that cultivates a habit of calling on their clients regularly on
technologies — technologies their birthdays and for reviews. This thereby not only increases agents’
designed to replace financial engagement with clients and odds of conversion, but more importantly, this
agents, and technologies designed closes the servicing gaps and increases repurchase rates in the marketplace.
to support financial agents.
While InsurTech companies tend to focus on sophisticated summaries that
Headquarter (HQ), an innovation by
contain jargon that mostly only agents can understand, HQ stays invested in
Heartzmail, belongs to the latter. In
helping the layperson understand the key figures that matter in their financial
facing increasing competition in the
portfolios. The layperson who receives summaries via WhatsApp or Telegram
financial industry, the HQ platform
from their agents tend to help them remember their coverage, plans and
that is designed with the needs of
shortfalls better.
financial advisers and experience of
their clients in mind. The personal branding tools provided by the Headquarter platform have
also helped many advisers enhance their positioning and referrals, and
The success of HQ is evidenced
currently powers some of the highest numbers of personal web profiles in
by the numerous testimonials that
the InsurTech industry.
showcase the benefits and ROI
that users and agents have reaped In addition, the capability to automate the sending of physical cards and
from using the various technologies allow agents and users to upload their own images through the digital
powered by HQ. Users have found HQ platform has enabled users to display their creativity and individuality
HQ to be user-friendly, human- through customisation, bringing about higher satisfaction among agents’
centric and valuable in solving real clients and their families.
pain points as the system helps to
The unique and innovative solutions by Headquarter are in tune with the
streamline day-to-day business and
needs of the financial services market, and the out-of-the-box and fresh
sales processes.
solutions that HQ came up with has brought about positive changes and
Unlike many other CRM companies impacted the way advisers think about and carry out their business and
that focus on purely keeping handle relationships.
6th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2021 v 21You can also read
