Lester Doecke has taken up the top life insurance job at Zurich Financial Services under a shake-up of the group.
Doecke takes over from the post vacated by Barry Stephen who retired earlier this month. He was previously head of market development and will retain this role under the restructure.
Distribution chief Steve Newnham says the restructure is indicative of Zurich’s confidence in the life market.
“We have increased the support and structure of products in the market as well as product development and compliance. The life industry is about compliance and positioning in the market which is why Doecke will sit in both the development and marketing divisions,” Newnham says.
“We want to ensure our positioning is spot on in terms of consumers as the general heightening of investment awareness has raised insurance needs as well. The industry is now meeting the needs of consumers and moved away from the needs of the insurer and distributor.”
Doecke joined Zurich in 1998 after leaving the NRMA where he worked with Zurich chief executive officer Malcolm Jones, who was chief executive of the NRMA group at the time. During his time at NRMA, Doecke was a consultant for two years and general manager of financial services for 18 months where he headed up the group’s retail investment business including life insurance.
Before working with NRMA he was also with the State Government Insurance Commission (SGIC) in South Australia for five years as head of business development and strategic planning where Jones also held the role of chief executive.
Prior to entering the industry Doecke was involved in computer systems and nuclear medicine.
