By Rebecca Evans
ZurichFinancial Services has recruited former AMP head of e-business Barry Tomkinson to a key executive post focused on strategy, as part of a pointed effort to “keep ahead of the game”, according to head of investment management and life Peter Delprado.
Tomkinson has been appointed as strategy, planning and support manager, and will report directly to Delprado.
He has over 20 years experience in the financial industry, including a spell with consultancy firm Program Delivery Partners as director, strategy delivery, but is better known in the industry for his tenure at AMP.
Tomkinson led the AMP e-business unit in 2000, but left the group after almost 11 years when the unit was disbanded and reintegrated back into mainstream AMP business units.
Upon his departure from AMP, Tomkinson said the business objectives had been met, making his express purpose as a “change agent” redundant.
At Zurich, Tomkinson will be sent in to lead and deliver the Zurich investment management and life’s strategic planning process and to oversee the financial management and compliance activities of the business.
“Zurich Australia has a clear and deliberate strategy in the investment, super and life space,” Delprado says.
“However, the market is constantly changing — the latest move being in fund choice — so it is vital to constantly review our strategy,” he says.
The appointment announcement comes only weeks after the group lost its Australian chief executive John Butler who quit after a five-year stint at the helm, and was replaced by former chairman and chief executive of Pathos Partners, Tom Brown.
