Ann Kelleher, CEO of Ark Life has been elected the Insurance Ireland President for 2019/2020. Ann has chaired the Insurance Ireland Life Council since 2017 which has led the industry’s engagement on pensions policy, including auto enrolment. Pensions policy will be one of Ann’s priorities for the year ahead in addition to supporting member engagement on domestic and European policy files, and advancing the industry’s diversity and inclusion agenda.
Prior to becoming CEO of Ark Life, Ann was Operations Director in Aviva Ireland Life and Pensions and prior to that she spent a number of years with Bank of Ireland’s life and pensions subsidiary where she held roles in Operations, HR and Legal. A UCD law graduate and a qualified solicitor, Ann also has an MSC in Business Administration from Trinity College Dublin and is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors. In addition, Ann is a non-executive director of Allianz plc.
Kevin Thompson said, “We are delighted to announce Ann’s election as Insurance Ireland President. As well as a keen strategic focus, Ann brings a wealth of industry experience and expertise to the role, and this has been ably demonstrated in her capacity as Chair of our Life Council. I would like to thank outgoing President Anthony Brennan for his leadership over the past year on the strategic direction of Insurance Ireland, the establishment of our European office and supporting each Council’s policy priorities.”
Ann Kelleher said, “I am very grateful for the support of the Insurance Ireland membership and the opportunity they have given me to lead the industry’s work over the next 12 months. Insurance is at the heart of almost all economic activity in Ireland and it supports long-term financial planning for individuals and families. I want to ensure the industry’s expertise helps to inform important policy developments including auto-enrolment pensions, as there is a once in a generation opportunity to increase pensions coverage, and we have the experience to help deliver the best outcomes. I look forward to advancing these and other policy priorities in the year ahead.”