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AIA NZ appoints Elyse Sullivan as Chief Underwriter

Auckland, 30 September 2025

Leading life insurer, AIA NZ, is pleased to announce the appointment of Elyse Sullivan as its new Chief Underwriter, effective 6 October 2025.

Maddie Sherlock, AIA New Zealand’s Chief Customer Officer, says Elyse’s appointment marks an exciting step forward for the business.

“Elyse brings a rare combination of strategic insight and hands-on underwriting expertise. Her leadership will be key to evolving our underwriting function in line with our customer-first approach and growth ambitions. We’re delighted to welcome her to the team.”

In her new role, Elyse will lead AIA NZ’s underwriting strategy and operations, working closely with cross-functional teams to enhance underwriting capability, strengthen risk frameworks, and support the company’s broader purpose and growth ambitions. Her appointment reflects AIA NZ’s ongoing commitment to excellence, innovation, and putting customers at the heart of everything it does.

Elyse brings more than a decade of experience in life insurance underwriting, with a strong track record in risk assessment, operational leadership, and strategic development. Most recently, she was Underwriting Manager at Chubb Life, where she led a team of ten underwriters and played a pivotal role in shaping underwriting strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance and driving operational excellence.

Her career spans Sovereign, which was acquired by AIA Group in 2019, and ASB, where she developed deep capabilities in customer service, performance optimisation and technical underwriting. Elyse is widely recognised for her collaborative leadership style, attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for both customers and stakeholders.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining AIA New Zealand at such a dynamic time for the industry,” says Elyse.

“I’ve long admired AIA’s purpose-led approach and its commitment to helping New Zealanders live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives – and this is also something of a homecoming for me given my time at Sovereign.

“I look forward to working with the talented underwriting team to continue building a customer-first, high-performing environment that supports sustainable growth and innovation.”

Elyse Sullivan

Elyse Sullivan

- ENDS -

For any media questions, please contact Amy Wallis - AIA NZ Manager, Communications | amy.wallis@aia.com

About AIA New Zealand

AIA New Zealand is a leading life insurer with over 40 years’ experience in the New Zealand market and is part of the AIA Group, the largest independent publicly listed Asia-Pacific life insurance group. With a unique customer value proposition focused on life, health and wellbeing, AIA New Zealand’s purpose is to help New Zealanders live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.