AXA reveals four senior appointments

AXA Life Insurance Singapore appointed four senior executives to respond to the global financial crisis.

The four executives are: Catherine Wong, Chief Operating Officer; Patricia Chang, Chief Financial Officer; Loo Kheh Khoon, Head of AXA Financial Planning; and Karen Koa, Head of Human Resource.

"We are facing an unprecedented global crisis. We cannot control our environment but we can control how we respond," said Gilbert Pak, Chief Executive Officer.

Pak noted that AXA’s ambition is to become among the top three life insurers in Singapore and to become the preferred company to customers, shareholders and employees by 2012.

Commenting on the new appointments, Gilbert Pak, Chief Executive Officer, said, "In turbulent times, the quality of management teams can be a major differentiating factor. I am very delighted to have Patricia, Catherine, Kheh Khoon and Karen on the management team. Their wealth of experience and strong leadership capabilities will enable us to spearhead first-in-the-market initiatives that advance the interests of our customers, shareholders and employees."

Catherine Wong, currently Chief Distribution Officer, will assume the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer effective 1 April 2009. In this role, she will be responsible for the functional areas of Adviser and Customer Service, Information Technology, Programme Management Office and Distribution Support Services, to redefine delivery of services to business partners and clients. She will also continue to oversee the Alliance Distribution business team, to grow AXA’s share in the independent financial advisers market.

A qualified actuary and CFA charterholder, Patricia Chang joined AXA Life Insurance Singapore on 2 February 2009. As Chief Financial Officer, Patricia will direct the organisation’s financial strategy, planning and forecasts, to maintain AXA’s financial resilience amidst volatile market situations. In addition to managing the actuarial and finance teams, she will also oversee product development with immediate effect, to enhance AXA’s suite of quality financial solutions.

Loo Kheh Khoon joined AXA Life Insurance Singapore on 1 March 2009, as the Head of AXA Financial Planning. In this role, Kheh Khoon is responsible for growing the team of exclusive financial planners in both sales and manpower.

No stranger to the life insurance industry, Kheh Khoon has a proven track record in realising growth within the agency distribution channel and achieving aggressive sales and profit targets through enhanced marketing and product capabilities.

Karen Koa, currently Manager for Human Resource, will replace Shirley Lee as Head of Human Resource with effect from 1 April 2009. Shirley will be moving on to the ipac wealth management Asia business, a member of the global AXA Group. Through her 13 years in AXA, Karen has gained wide experience in Distribution and Programme Management Office, in addition to Human Resource.

In her new role, Karen will oversee employee engagement and development, and build teams that will grow the business.