AIA NZ has announced the appointment of Shaun Baird as its new Chief Financial Officer. Baird succeeds Linda Page, who has retired after nearly two decades with the company.
Baird, who joined AIA NZ (formerly known as Sovereign) in 2016, has held several senior roles including head of finance business partnering, head of financial control and head of strategy. Most recently, he was the project lead for the implementation of IFRS 17, a key initiative to transition AIA NZ to new international insurance and financial accounting standards.
Prior to his career at AIA, Baird gained extensive experience in senior financial and commercial roles in the banking and telecommunications sectors. A graduate of the University of Auckland, he holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Commerce.
“I am delighted that Shaun has taken on this important role for the company. It’s another great example of our commitment to developing and promoting internal talent. Shaun has made a huge impact during his time at AIA. He’ll bring great knowledge of our business and experience to the CFO role and his finance team,” said AIA NZ CEO Nick Stanhope.
Page, Baird’s predecessor, has had a 40-year career in the New Zealand insurance and financial services industry. She joined AIA NZ (then Sovereign) in 2004 and took on her first executive role as Chief Financial Officer in 2012. She later moved into the roles of chief performance officer and chief projects actuary, before returning to the CFO role in 2018.
“Linda’s contribution to the success of our business cannot be understated. She has been a valuable member of the AIA NZ family and her leadership, service and guidance will be missed by us all. We wish her well in her future endeavours,” said Stanhope.
In other recent developments, the life insurer has also unveiled a new initiative through its AIA Vitality programme, designed to incentivise both new and existing customers.
