Jim Minto

Managing Director

Jim Minto was appointed as the Managing Director of TOWER Australia in November 2006. He was previously Group Managing Director of TOWER Limited overseeing the trans-Tasman TOWER businesses prior to company separating along geographic lines.

A Chartered Accountant, Mr Minto holds a number of other directorships and appointments and has been active in industry bodies throughout his career. He has recently been elected to the Board of the Association of Super Funds of Australia (ASFA).

Mr Minto joined TOWER in New Zealand in 1988 as Managing Director the Group's Trust business. He led several other TOWER businesses in New Zealand before taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer of TOWER Australia in November 2002. In March 2005, he was appointed Group Managing Director of the trans-Tasman TOWER Limited Group until the November 2006 demerger when he took up the TOWER Australia role.

Jim Minto is a strong public advocate for the social importance of the life insurance industry to the people of Australia.

John De Zwart

Chief Financial Officer

John de Zwart became Chief Financial Officer of TOWER Australia Group Limited in November 2006 following its separation from TOWER Limited.

He joined TOWER Australia Limited in July 2003 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer of TOWER Limited in March 2005.

Prior to joining TOWER Australia, Mr de Zwart spent four years in senior roles with AMP U K Financial Services and four years with AMP in Australia in the positions of CFO for AMP Corporate Superannuation and Group Finance Executive. He has also worked for Westpac, Price Waterhouse and CS First Boston, U K.

John de Zwart is a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney. He is a chartered accountant with more than 20 years experience in the finance services sector in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Peter Noble

Head of Corporate Governance

Peter Noble joined TOWER Australia as Head of Corporate Governance in January 2007.

Before joining TOWER Australia, Mr Noble was a Managing Partner at a major Sydney law firm. He has served as General Counsel to AMP and has practised with international law firms in Australia, Asia and the United States.

Peter Noble is a Bachelor of Commerce and Law. He has more than 30 years experience in the financial services sector.

Simon Higgins

Head of Human Resources

Simon Higgins joined TOWER Australia as Head of Human Resources in January 2006.

Immediately prior to joining TOWER Australia, Mr Higgins worked as Director, Human Resources for Hudson ANZ and immediately prior to that as Human Resource Director (Asia Pacific) for Lexmark International. He has held executive Human Resource roles in the US, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Simon Higgins is a Bachelor in Psychology & Education and holds additional qualifications in Business and Strategic Human Resource management. He has 19 years experience in Human Resources Management across the Health, Information Technology, Professional and Financial Services industries.

Brett Clark

CEO, Retail Life

Brett Clark was appointed Chief Executive Office of Retail Life in August 2008. He has extensive experience in life insurance and has held a number of management and senior executive roles with life insurance companies working around the globe.

Prior to joining TOWER Australia Mr Clark was Deputy Managing Director of AIG Life in Australia and before that held he positions in the company as General Manager - Products and Distribution and as Chief Actuary.

Brett Clark is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne with majors in Economics and Actuarial Studies.

Geoff Black

CEO Group Life and Investments

Geoff Black was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Group Life and Alliances with TOWER Australia in March 2006 following the company's acquisition of PrefSure Life.

Mr Black joined the Lumley Insurance Group in 1988 as Financial Controller and was appointed Managing Director of Lumley Life Limited in 1994. Following the merger of Lumley Life Limited and PrefSure Life Limited he was appointed Managing Director of PrefSure Life in 2004.

Geoff Black is a Bachelor of Commerce and holds a Graduate Diploma in Management and Financial Planning. He has more than 25 years experience in the financial services industries in New Zealand, South Africa, Britain and Australia.

Bradley Goldschmidt

Joint CEO, InsuranceLine

Joint CEO, TOWER Alliances

Bradley Goldschmidt co-founded InsuranceLine in 1998 after emigrating from South Africa. He was Joint CEO and Joint Managing Director of InsuranceLine when TOWER Australia purchased InsuranceLine in October 2008.

Mr Goldschmidt has spent his entire career, over 18 years, in the insurance industry, both General and Life. During that period he played a leading role in developing Direct distribution channels in both industries. Before InsuranceLine, he was a General Manager in one of South Africa's largest insurers, during which time he launched, and managed the organisation's direct distribution division.

Bradley Goldschmidt is an undergraduate and postgraduate in Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Howard Ware

Joint CEO, InsuranceLine

Joint CEO, TOWER Alliances

Howard Ware co-founded InsuranceLine in 1998 after emigrating from South Africa. He was the Joint CEO and Joint Managing Director of InsuranceLine when TOWER Australia purchased InsuranceLine in October 2008.

Mr Ware has more than 20 years of global senior management experience in both Life and General Insurance. He has been a Management Consultant for one of the major global accounting firms. Before immigrating to Australia and setting up InsuranceLine, he was a General Manager at one of the largest insurance companies in South Africa where he played a key role in the team that successfully pioneered the direct distribution of life insurance.

Howard Ware holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as being both a South African and Australian Chartered Accountant.

Phil Soutter

Chief Information Officer

Phil Soutter became part of the TOWER Australia senior executive team when he joined the company in November 2009. He has more than 30 years experience in information technology working for major corporations in Australia.

Immediately prior to joining TOWER Australia, Mr Soutter was Joint CIO for St George Bank which was acquired during the year by Westpac Banking Corporation. He has held senior IT roles within St George, as well as working for Barclays Bank and Goodyear Tyre and Rubber.

Phil Soutter's role will cover all IT aspects of the TOWER Australia Group and bring greater co-ordination across all parts of the company's activities.

Toru Nagashima

Dai-ichi Life Liaison Executive

Toru Nagashima was appointed to the TOWER Australia Group L imited Board as to alternate director to Mr Takayuki Kotani in April 2009. He is also a member of the TOWER Australia senior executive team.

Toru Nagashima joined TOWER Australia in March 2009 in the key role of further developing and maintaining an ongoing positive and cooperative relationship between TOWER and its principal shareholder, Dai-ichi Life.

Prior to joining TOWER Australia, Mr Nagashima was General Manager, Structured and Alternative Investment Department of Dai-ichi Life in Japan. Mr Nagashima joined Dai-ichi Life in April 1983 and has significant experience particularly in the investment area.