Melbourne, 7 July 2021 – AIA Australia has announced the appointment of Peter Yates AM as Chair of AIA Australia, with Theresa Gattung CNZM to continue leading AIA New Zealand as Chair.
Mr Yates is an experienced Director who has served on the AIA Australia Board for more than ten years, and as Deputy Chair since 2016. The appointment will allow Ms Gattung to focus on the New Zealand business and other interests, following 12 years with AIA Australia after joining as Independent Director in 2009 and Chair in 2010.
Mr Yates said "Having served as Deputy Chair of AIA and Chair of CommInsure Life, it's a privilege to now lead AIA Australia as Chair. There are significant opportunities ahead, including AIA's ongoing role as a champion of shared value, as well as the next phase of our journey to help Australians live healthier, longer, better lives."
AIA Australia CEO and Managing Director Damien Mu said "On behalf of AIA, we are extremely pleased to have Peter take over as Chair of the AIA Australia Board, following his role as Deputy Chair. Peter has a wealth of experience and knowledge that we have benefited from and we look forward to the next phase of the journey.
"I also want to recognise and thank Ms Theresa Gattung for the outstanding role she played in helping steer AIA Australia over the past 12 years, which included a number of significant milestones for the business, including the launch of AIA Vitality. Ms Gattung's business experience, leadership and commitment to AIA's philosophy of doing the right thing in the right way has been a true asset, and no doubt will continue to make an ongoing and positive difference to the AIA New Zealand business."
Bio - Peter Yates AM
Peter is Chair of AIA Australia Limited, a Director of Linfox Australia Pty Ltd and Mutual Trust Pty Ltd. He is Chairman of the Royal Institution of Australia, the Australian Science Media Centre, the Faculty of Business and Economics at Melbourne University, the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, the Shared Value Project and the NHMRC Centre for Personalised Immunology at ANU and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication.
From 2004-2007 Peter was Managing Director of Oceania Capital Partners and held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Publishing and Broadcasting Limited from 2001-2004. Until 2001, he worked in the Investment Banking industry including 15 years with Macquarie Bank. He holds a Doctorate of the University from Murdoch University, a Masters degree from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a Commerce degree from University of Melbourne.
Peter has been Deputy Chairman of The Myer Family Investments Ltd, a Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Asialink, Crown Ltd, Foxtel Ltd, The Nine Network, the National Portrait Gallery, the Centre for Independent Studies and the Australia-Japan Foundation.
In the June 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours, Peter was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for service to education, to the financial services industry and to a range of arts, science and charitable organisations and in 2017 was made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). He has also recently been awarded the Australian Academy of Science Medal for 2019.
Contact: Sarah Phillips
AIA Australia
T: +61 498 494 791
About AIA Australia
AIA Australia is a leading life insurance specialist with over 48 years' experience and a commitment to help Australians live healthier, longer, better lives. In 2014 the company launched AIA Vitality, a world leading, science-based health and wellbeing program, to the Australian market. In July 2017, AIA and its partners launched AIA's health insurance business, now known as AIA Health Insurance.
In 2021, CommInsure Life was integrated into AIA Australia. The lives of more than 3.8 million Australians are protected and enhanced through AIA Australia's unique value proposition of life, health and wellbeing. Our vision is to embrace shared value in championing Australia and New Zealand to be the healthiest and best protected nations in the world.
AIA Australia has been recognised with multiple awards, including the Women in Finance Employer of the Year Award (2018, 2019), Super Review's Best Insurer of the Year (2018, 2019), iSelect Partner Awards Insurer of the Year (2019), Insurance Asia International Life Insurer of the Year (Australia, 2020), Shared Value Awards Corporate Organisation Leading Through Shared Value (2019) and Shared Value Awards Organisation of the Year (2020).
Further information at www.aia.com.au.
