AIA: Updates announced for senior executive appointments

02 May 2017

AIA Group Limited announced last week that Mr Ng Keng Hooi will formally succeed Mr Mark Tucker as Group Chief Executive and President from 1 June 2017, earlier than previously stated, following a smooth handover process progressing well and ahead of plan. Mr Tucker will remain as a director of AIA Group Limited, in a non-executive capacity, from June until 31 August 2017, the date of his retirement. AIA has also appointed two new Regional Chief Executives, Mr John Cai and Mr Jacky Chan who will assume their new positions from 1 June 2017.

Mr John Cai, who has been CEO of AIA China since 2009, will be appointed as Regional Chief Executive responsible for AIA’s operations in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Myanmar. Since joining AIA in 2009, he has led the transformation of AIA China to become one of the largest and fastest growing businesses within the Group, said the insurer. Mr Zhang Xiaoyu, currently Chief Distribution Officer of the China operations, will succeed Mr Cai as China CEO.

Mr Jacky Chan, CEO of AIA Hong Kong and Macau for the last eight years, will be appointed as Regional Chief Executive responsible for AIA’s operations in Hong Kong and Macau, Singapore and Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia as well as Group Agency Distribution. He replaces Mr Gordon Watson, who has decided to leave the group to pursue other interests. Mr Peter Crewe will take over from Mr Chan as CEO of the Hong Kong and Macau operations.

Mr Bill Lisle will continue in his role as Regional Chief Executive, responsible for AIA’s operations in Thailand, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka as well as Group Partnership Distribution.

Mr Ng Keng Hooi, Group Chief Executive and President Designate, said:

“I would like to congratulate John and Jacky on their new appointments. They have both played a significant role in AIA’s success since our IPO, demonstrating strong leadership and a track record of sustained execution in each of their respective markets. The fact that these are internal appointments also highlights the quality and depth of AIA’s senior management team across the region.

“I would also like to thank Gordon for his many important and lasting contributions to the Group. I know that I join with many of my AIA colleagues in wishing him all the best for the future.

“Finally, I wanted to express my great appreciation to Mark Tucker for his enormous contribution to AIA and for his transformational leadership over the years since our IPO. I have had the great privilege and pleasure of working closely with Mark in Asia for more than 20 years and I wish him every success in his new non-executive Chairman role at HSBC.”