Fidelity Life strengthens team to support adviser success and business growth.
Media release
2 April 2025
Fidelity Life, New Zealand’s largest locally owned life insurer, has announced several key appointments and team changes to reinforce its ongoing commitment to build strong adviser relationships.
Over the past ten months, Fidelity Life has introduced innovations across its tools, products, and the way it supports advisers; many of which have been made in direct response to adviser feedback.
Fidelity Life Chief Commercial Officer Bronwyn Kirwan says the company is embracing this feedback to refine its focus areas and to provide the appropriate support for advisers.
“We’re continuing to invest in growth by resourcing a highly skilled team whose purpose is to make it easier for advisers to do business with us.
“These key people updates further strengthen our ability to serve the adviser community and will enable us to continue to bring much needed innovation to the life insurance industry,” she says.
New Head of Individual Life
Fidelity Life has appointed Craig Wagstaff as the new Head of Individual Life, starting 9 June. Craig steps into the role following the promotion of David Winspear to Chief Operating Officer and will report directly to Bronwyn Kirwan, Chief Commercial Officer.
Joining Bronwyn’s strong leadership team, Craig brings extensive expertise in life insurance, adviser relationships and bancassurance partnerships. His impressive career includes serving as Head of ASB Partnership, Head of New Business Operations and Integration Business Lead at AIA / Sovereign and most recently holding the executive position of Group General Manager Franchise, Brand and Marketing at NZHL. Craig will lead all aspects of Fidelity Life’s distribution strategy and channel performance for advisers, strategic alliances, bancassurance, and digital partners - areas of significant investment as Fidelity Life continues its growth journey.
National Partnerships Manager – Corporate and Growth
Fidelity Life is thrilled to welcome back Simon Millward to the newly created role of National Partnerships Manager – Corporate and Growth, starting this week. Simon was formerly Fidelity Life’s Head of Service Excellence, overseeing adviser onboarding, customer value and retention, customer advocacy and complaint resolution, and quality assurance. Prior to this role, he also headed up the company’s group insurance portfolio.
In his new role, Simon will manage a portfolio of intermediary partnerships at regional and national levels while driving growth through new relationships.
Simon brings a wealth of leadership experience in life insurance, having begun his career with Sovereign (now AIA) and built extensive expertise across adviser and group channels, operations, and partnership management. His return highlights his enthusiasm for contributing to Fidelity Life’s success and fostering strong partnerships.
Distribution team changes and promotions
Fidelity Life has also made changes across its adviser-facing distribution team, welcoming Sam Paterson as Business Manager for the Canterbury and Marlborough region, starting mid-April. She comes from Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) where she’s had a successful 13-year career, starting out as an Insurance Consultant and working her way up to become Area Manager for the Canterbury region.
In other news, Business Managers Peter Warfield and Kirsty Michell have been promoted to Senior Business Managers, acknowledging their incredible commitment to supporting Fidelity Life’s strategic goals and providing exceptional adviser support to their panel members.
Effective 30 June, Fidelity Life will farewell Auckland Business Manager Kenny Kaushish as he embarks on an exciting new journey as a financial adviser. The company wishes him well in his next chapter and looks forward to working alongside him in his new capacity. A search for a new Auckland Business Manager has commenced.
Strengthening group insurance
A new role for Group Business Manager has also been introduced. Rhys Knight, who joins from Suncorp New Zealand has been appointed to the role and brings valuable expertise in group life and digital innovation, having held roles as a Group Life BDM, Partner Development Manager and more recently as Manager of Digital Customer Support and Business Solutions.
Reporting to Anita Los’e, Head of Group Insurance, Rhys will drive increased client engagement and digital innovation while supporting Fidelity Life’s growing group insurance portfolio. This appointment enables Fidelity Life to better support group advisers and provide more protection for employees across New Zealand.
“We are committed to supporting our advisers and ensuring our solutions truly meet the needs of New Zealanders. These team changes and updates underscore our dedication to driving improvements and delivering meaningful benefits to both our advisers and customers,” says Bronwyn.
“Financial advisers play a vital role in helping New Zealanders make informed financial decisions, and we’re dedicated to fostering the growth of the profession. When advisers choose to grow with us, that growth extends to benefit New Zealanders through our local shareholders and support programmes and we want to grow together for the good of New Zealand,” she says.
