AIA Bhd set to name Anusha Thavarajah CEO

PETALING JAYA: AIA Bhd is set to name Anusha Thavarajah as CEO to replace Bill Lisle who has helmed the enlarged insurance group since Dec 26, 2012, making her the first woman to hold the post.
Anusha is expected to step into the role in June, pending Bank Negara Malaysia's approval.
In October 2012, AIA Group Ltd (AGL) bought ING's insurance operations in Malaysia for RM5.3 billion, making AIA the number one life insurer by total premiums in the Malaysian market.
The life insurer is expected to announce the appointment of Anusha at a press briefing today, with other "key management changes" at the group.
Anusha was deputy general manager of finance and actuarial in AIA before she was promoted to the role of regional business development director in AGL from Oct 1, 2014.
SunBiz learnt that Lisle will take on a regional role as one of the chief executives in AGL based in Hong Kong.
Anusha who has worked in the insurance industry in the UK and Asia for more than 20 years, will report to Lisle.
Her experience encompasses life and health insurance, general insurance, pensions and mergers and acquisition work with organisations such as GE Life (UK), Barclays Life (UK), Aetna International Asia Pacific and ING Insurance Bhd.
She currently sits as a board member in AIA Pension and Asset Management Sdn Bhd (AIA PAM).
AIA PAM is the fund management arm of AIA , which is one of the two life insurance companies to be awarded the Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) license by the Securities Commission in 2012. AIA PAM also manages the PRS funds.
Prior to joining AIA, Anusha was deputy to Nirmala Menon in ING, the first woman CEO in the life insurance industry in Malaysia.
Anusha holds a BSc (Mathematics & Statistics) from University of Birmingham, UK and is a Fellow of Institute of Actuaries, UK.
AIA is a leading insurer in Malaysia, offering a suite of products including protection, health, personal accident, general Insurance, employee benefits, retirement and family takaful solutions.
For the financial year ended Nov 30 2014, AIA Bhd's operating profit after tax rose by 12% to RM1.02 billion driven by underlying business growth and better product profitability.
The company saw an increase of 34% in the value of new business (VONB) from a year earlier, while takaful VONB grew by more than 50% from a year ago.
As at end 2014, AIA Bhd's total asset worth was RM46 billion, with a paid-up capital of RM767 million.