Our People

Theresa was appointed as an Independent Director and Chair of the AIA New Zealand Limited Board of Directors in July 2018, when AIA Group completed its acquisition of Sovereign Assurance Company Limited.  

Theresa was previously an independent Director of AIA Australia and served as Chair of the AIA Australia Board from 2010 until 2021. 

From October 1999 to June 2007, Theresa was the CEO and Managing Director of Telecom New Zealand, where she led the company through world-changing technology developments. 

Theresa is the co-founder of the very successful start-up My Food Bag, is currently Chair Tend, Chair Global Women and a member of the National Advisory Board on the Employment of Women.  

She has many not-for-profit and philanthropic interests including being on the Global Board of World Pulse, co-founder and trustee of the World Women Charitable Trust and Patron of the Cambodia Charitable Trust. 

In 2021 she funded the Theresa Gattung Chair of Women in Entrepreneurship within the University of Auckland Business School and launched the Gattung Foundation whose main charitable purposes are to support the relief of poverty, the education and advancement of women, Māori, and Pasifika to reduce inequality and the care, support and protection of animals.

In the 2015 New Year’s Honours List, Theresa was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and philanthropy, and in August that year she was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame at the TVNZ Marketing Awards.  

In 2017 she was named the inaugural winner of the NEXT Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award and in September 2018 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the Westpac Women of Influence Awards. 

In February 2019 she was inducted into the RNZSPCA Hall of Fame. 

In 2021 she was inducted into The New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs and given the Inaugural NZ Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award for her trailblazing leadership and empowerment of women by UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand.  

Leo Grepin was appointed to the AIA New Zealand Limited Board of Directors in March 2022. Leo is the Regional Chief Executive and Group Chief Strategy Officer responsible for AIA Group’s businesses operating in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines as well as leading the Group’s Strategy and Corporate Development functions. 

Leo is a member of the AIA Group Executive Committee having joined the Group in January 2022. Leo is also President Commissioner at PT AIA Financial and a Director of multiple AIA entities including AIA Australia Limited, AIA Company Limited and AIA Holdings Pte. Limited.  

Prior to joining the AIA Group, Leo was President of Sun Life, Asia. Before joining Sun Life, he was at Bridgewater Associates, a global hedge fund, where he led the team that managed portfolio construction and trade generation. He also spent 15 years at McKinsey & Company and led the global client service teams serving several multinational insurers and asset managers as Senior Partner.  

Leo Grepin has a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Hons) from McGill University.  

As CEO New Zealand, Nick is proud to lead a passionate team of 900 people with the goal of making New Zealand one of the healthiest and most protected nations in the world.

With 28 years of experience in the financial services sector, Nick has held a diverse range of senior leadership roles in New Zealand, including the Executive General Manager of Wealth & Insurance at ASB Bank Limited. He has held a variety of key leadership roles within ASB including General Manager Corporate Banking and Working Capital Services, General Manager Business Banking and General Manager of Business Banking and Retail Specialist Services.

Nick has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and is a Board Member of the Financial Services Council of New Zealand. Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Nick is married with two daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys keeping active, is a keen cyclist and gym goer and has competed in triathlons and Ironman events.

Damien Mu has more than 20 years’ experience in the Australian financial services industry, with management experience spanning operations, claims and underwriting, superannuation, investments, distribution, product, pricing and marketing.

Damien’s career at AIA Australia began in April 2007. Over that time he has held various roles, including Head of Group Insurance, Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer and General Manager - Life Insurance.

On 1 August 2014, Damien was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer, AIA Australia. In 2014 the company launched AIA Vitality, a world leading health and wellness programme, to the Australian market. New Zealand was added to his responsibilities in July 2016 and in July 2017 AIA and its partners launched myOwn Health, a new health insurance business in Australia. In July 2018, AIA completed its acquisition of Sovereign Assurance Company Limited (now AIA New Zealand), and entered into a strategic bancassurance arrangement with ASB Bank.

Damien is the Chair and director of AIAV Pty Ltd and director of AIA Australia, AIA Health Insurance Pty Ltd, MO Support Pty Ltd, ANZIIF, the Council of Australian Life Insurers, and Neuroscience Research Australia.

Dame Paula Rebstock was appointed to the AIA New Zealand Limited Board of Directors in February 2022.

Dame Paula is a leading Auckland-based economist and company director, with extensive professional experience in corporate and public services governance.

Dame Paula is a former Chair of the New Zealand Commerce Commission and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), and has served as a Deputy Chair of KiwiRail, and a Director of Auckland Transport.

Dame Paula holds a range of current directorships including serving as Chair of Asia Pacific Healthcare Group and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Māia; and as Deputy Chair of Vector. She is also a Director of the NZX, and of On Being Bold.

Dame Paula Rebstock was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015 for services to the State and also holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Tracey Cross is a Legal and Business Adviser with substantial experience in the financial services industry spanning more than 25 years. She was appointed to the AIA New Zealand Limited Board of Directors in August 2019 and chairs the Board's ESG Committee. 

Tracey is passionate about governing for purpose, good conduct, and the importance of culture and purpose as being key to competitive and sustainable business. Tracey is a champion for diversity, empowerment, and raising the financial wellbeing of women. She is co-Chair and founding member of the Financial Services Council’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is an independent Director of Mint Assessment Management Limited (chairing its Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee) and Tony Mounce Mortgages Limited.

Tracey Cross is a former partner of global law firm DLA Piper which she joined in 2001, leading its Auckland financial services team for over 20 years.

During her time at DLA Piper Tracey worked extensively to lead the firm’s conduct and culture initiative, bringing best practice and insights to clients, and advising Boards and senior management.   

Tracey has an LLB from Victoria University and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.