Myriad of appointments at Fidelity Life

Fidelity Life as a new head of individual life, business development managers come and go and a new group insurance manager.

Wednesday, April 2nd 2025, 3:49PM

Craig Wagstaff has been appointed as the new head of individual life. This appointment comes after David Winspear was appointed chief operating officer.

Wagstaff has extensive expertise in life insurance, adviser relationships and bancassurance partnerships. His career includes serving as head of ASB partnership, head of new business operations and integration business lead at AIA/Sovereign and most recently holding the executive position of group general manager franchise, brand and marketing at NZHL.

He will lead all aspects of Fidelity Life’s distribution strategy and channel performance for advisers, strategic alliances, bancassurance, and digital partners - areas of significant investment as Fidelity Life continues its growth journey.

National Partnerships Manager – Corporate and Growth

Simon Millward has rejoined Fidelity to the newly created role of national partnerships manager – corporate and growth. Previously he was Fidelity’s head of service excellence, overseeing adviser onboarding, customer value and retention, customer advocacy and complaint resolution, and quality assurance. Prior to this role, he also headed up the company’s group insurance portfolio.

In his new role, Millward will manage a portfolio of intermediary partnerships at regional and national levels while driving growth through new relationships.

Distribution team changes

Sam Paterson is business manager for the Canterbury and Marlborough region. She comes from Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) where she’s had a successful 13-year career, starting out as an insurance consultant and working her way up to become area manager for the Canterbury region.

Business managers Peter Warfield and Kirsty Michell are now senior business managers.

Auckland business manager Kenny Kaushish is leaving Fidelity to be come a financial adviser.

A new role for group business manager has also been created. Rhys Knight, joins from Suncorp New Zealand where he held various roles most recently as manager of digital customer support and business solutions.

Tags: Craig Wagstaff Fidelity Life Sam Paterson