Acenda Group has confirmed the future appointments of Yvonne Le Bas (pictured right) as group chief financial officer and Karen Malzard (pictured left) as group chief risk officer, pending the finalisation of its merger with Resolution Life Australasia.
These roles will become effective once the acquisition of Resolution Life by Nippon Life receives regulatory approval and the two organisations combine to form Acenda Group.
New leadership to guide merged Acenda Group
The combined business is positioned to be one of the largest life insurance providers in Australia.
The leadership structure will also include Chris de Bruin as group chief executive officer and Craig Dunn as board chair, supported by a team of independent non-executive directors.
Dunn, who will serve as the independent chair, said the appointments represent an important step in building the group’s leadership.
“Yvonne and Karen, alongside group CEO Chris de Bruin, bring deep expertise and strong leadership capabilities to Acenda. I have great confidence in their ability to lead the business with integrity and a commitment to our customers and partners across Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
De Bruin, the incoming CEO, expressed anticipation in working with the new appointees.
“I am excited to work alongside Yvonne and Karen as part of Acenda’s future leadership team. Their combined experience across financial services and life insurance, as well as their strong leadership capabilities, will benefit Acenda as we lead the merged organisation through this important time for our business and the industry,” he said.
Le Bas brings over two decades of experience in finance, having worked in sectors such as financial services, property, and oil both in Australia and abroad. She is currently the CFO at Resolution Life Australasia and has previously held senior finance positions at BT Financial Group and Westpac Banking Group.
Malzard, who will take on the role of group CRO, is currently responsible for risk and compliance at Resolution Life Australasia. Her background includes executive roles at ANZ Bank, Zurich Financial Services, and BT Financial Group, with more than 25 years in the wealth management industry.
In parallel with these leadership changes, Acenda has introduced Vivo Companion, a digital tool designed to support policyholders recovering from illness or injury.
The platform, created in partnership with digital health company dacadoo, is tailored to rehabilitation and recovery.
Andrew Beevors, Acenda’s chief claims and transformation officer, said the tool is intended to integrate health support into the recovery process for policyholders.
“Active participation in recovery has been shown to support faster, more complete recoveries and a smoother return to everyday life and work,” he said.
Vivo Companion provides users with a health score, calculated from data such as physical activity, nutrition, and sleep patterns. The app is compatible with devices including Garmin and Fitbit for activity tracking.
Additional features include a digital health coach, behavioural prompts, and access to Acenda’s virtual care services. Engagement is further promoted through competitions and prize draws.
