AIA NZ has announced the appointment of Shaun Baird (pictured above) as its new chief financial officer. Baird succeeds Linda Page, who has retired after almost two decades with the company.
Baird, who joined AIA NZ (previously known as Sovereign) in 2016, has held several senior roles including head of finance business partnering, head of financial control, and head of strategy. His most recent position was as the project lead for the implementation of IFRS 17, a key initiative transitioning AIA NZ to new international insurance and financial accounting standards.
Before his career at AIA, Baird accumulated extensive experience in senior finance and commercial roles within the banking and telecommunications sectors. He is an alumnus of the University of Auckland, holding a bachelor of commerce degree and a graduate diploma in commerce.
“I’m really pleased to see Shaun step up into this critical role for the organisation. It’s another great example of our commitment to developing and promoting internal talent. Shaun has made a big impact in his time at AIA. He’ll bring great knowledge of our business and experience to the CFO role and to his finance team,” AIA NZ CEO Nick Stanhope said.
Page, Baird's predecessor, has had a 40-year career in the insurance and financial services industry in New Zealand. Joining AIA NZ (then Sovereign) in 2004, she assumed her first executive role in 2012 as chief financial officer. She later transitioned to the roles of chief performance officer and chief projects actuary before returning to the CFO position in 2018.
“Linda’s contribution to the success of our organisation 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 all the best for her future,” Stanhope said.
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