AIA Singapore has announced the appointment of Owen Addison as its incoming chief human resources officer (CHRO), effective Oct. 1.
Addison will take over from Aileen Tan, who is set to retire after more than seven years in the role.
The transition comes as Aileen Tan concludes her tenure at AIA Singapore on Sept. 30.
During her time with the company, Tan contributed to the development of AIA Singapore’s organisational culture and talent management strategies.
Following her retirement, she will move to Amplify Health, where she will provide guidance to the People and Culture team as a strategic advisor and coach.
Chief executive officer Wong Sze Keed acknowledged Tan’s service, stating: “Aileen has been a guiding light for our organisation, and her immense contributions will continue to be felt for years to come. We wish her all the best as she embarks on another phase.”
Addison, who joined AIA in 2017, brings experience from multiple roles within AIA Group Human Resources in Hong Kong.
His most recent position was director of human resources, where he worked closely with group technology and operations as well as AIA’s businesses in New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Addison’s professional background also includes roles in the financial sector and consulting at PwC.
Wong stated that Addison’s experience in human resources strategy and organisational development positions him well to lead AIA Singapore’s people agenda.
“Owen has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision throughout his tenure at AIA. With his proven track record in shaping and driving people and organisation strategies, AIA Singapore is confident that he will play a pivotal role in the company’s continued success,” she said.
The leadership announcement coincides with the publication of AIA Singapore’s inaugural sustainability report, which outlines the company’s progress on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues for 2024.
To address changing health protection needs, AIA Singapore introduced new insurance products and expanded partnerships during the reporting period.
The company launched AIA Ultimate Critical Cover, a critical illness policy designed to address affordability and protection gaps.
The product includes a reset feature, allowing coverage to be reinstated after claims, which is intended to improve accessibility for younger customers.
In addition, AIA Singapore enhanced its inpatient insurance by adding mental health coverage at no extra cost, extending this benefit to more than 1.3 million employees in Singapore. This move reflects a broader industry trend toward more comprehensive health benefits.
The insurer’s wellness platform, AIA Vitality, reported that a majority of participating members saw improvements in key health metrics by the end of 2024.
Employee engagement with the program also increased, with more staff reaching higher participation tiers compared to the previous year.
AIA Singapore also expanded digital health services through its partnership with WhiteCoat, offering telemedicine and home-based care to over one million policyholders. These services support the company’s Think Well platform, which focuses on mental health and well-being.
AIA Singapore continued to embed ESG considerations into its investment approach in 2024.
The company advanced blended finance initiatives and managed ESG-focused funds, including the AIA Sustainable Multi-thematic Fund and the Osmosis Resource Efficient Core Equity Fund.
Employees participated in sustainability training to align with these priorities.
Operationally, the insurer implemented measures to reduce environmental impact, such as minimising printed materials and installing solar-powered lighting at its Alexandra office.
ESG criteria were also incorporated into procurement decisions, and energy monitoring was expanded to facilities in Brunei.
AIA Singapore maintained its focus on workforce development through expanded training, coaching, and mentoring programs.
These initiatives contributed to the company achieving a high percentile in employee engagement benchmarks for the financial sector, based on Gallup’s global assessment.
On the governance front, the company integrated ESG-related risks into its enterprise risk management framework, strengthened cybersecurity and data protection measures, and updated compliance training to reinforce ethical standards and responsible business conduct across the organisation.
