AIA recruits counsel from NZ

AIA Australia has announced the appointment of Kristy Redfern as its new general counsel from New Zealand.

Redfern joined AIA's New Zealand office in 2016 as general counsel and executive director.

During this time, she played an instrumental role in the acquisition and integration of the Sovereign life insurance business and led the Regulatory Change Programme in New Zealand in response to the Australian Royal Commission.

Before joining AIA, Kristy spent several years as head of legal at Suncorp Group New Zealand and has previously worked for top global law firms in the United Kingdom, Oman, and New Zealand.

Redfern has sat on the Financial Services Council Board in New Zealand for the past five years and launched the inaugural FSC Diversity and Inclusion Committee which she co-chairs.

AIA Australia chief executive Damien Mu said Redfern's passion and drive to make a difference will be invaluable as the insurer continues its mission to make Australia the healthiest and best-protected nation in the world.

"It has been an honour to lead through an ambitious period of growth for AIA New Zealand over the last six years. I'm driven and inspired to do the right thing, in the right way with AIA and to help people lead healthier longer better lives," she added.