AIA Group Appoints Mitch New as Group General Counsel

HONG KONG, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- AIA Group Limited, ("AIA"; stock code: 1299), the world's largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group, announces the appointment of Mitch New as Executive Vice President & Group General Counsel with effect from 26 April 2011.

Mr. New is joining AIA from Manulife Financial where he was most recently their Senior Vice-President & Chief Legal Officer for Asia, based in Hong Kong and with responsibility for providing legal services to 10 countries in Asia.  Mr. New has held a number of senior posts during his over 14 year tenure with Manulife Financial including as Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Canadian Division, with oversight for the legal and compliance functions for the company's Canadian Division. 

Prior to his role in Canada, Mr. New was in various senior posts for Manulife's Asia Division for almost eight years, including as Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Asia with legal oversight for the company's operations in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. He also managed several strategic initiatives including demutualisation in Asia which led to the listing of Manulife's shares on the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and the Philippines. 

Mr. Mark Tucker, AIA Group Chief Executive and President, said: "I'm very pleased to welcome Mitch, who brings almost 20 years of legal expertise and a wealth of international experience to the role. Mitch is joining us at a critical time when the Group fully focuses on sustainable profitable growth. He will be a member of the AIA Group Executive Committee, and I am confident that the organisation will benefit from Mitch's sound judgment, gleaned from his experience in the legal services and insurance sector."

Mr. New, who will lead the Group Legal Services and Company Secretarial functions, said: "I am delighted to be joining AIA at an exciting time. The Group has a unique heritage in the insurance industry and an unparalleled position in Asia. I am really looking forward to working with the team. "

About the AIA Group

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "the AIA Group" or "the Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world. It has wholly-owned main operating subsidiaries or branches in 14 markets in Asia Pacific - Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Macau and Brunei and a 26% joint venture shareholding in India.

The Group traces its origins in Asia back more than 90 years. It is a market leader in the Asia Pacific region (ex Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It has total assets of US$107.9 billion (as at 30 November 2010).

The AIA Group meets the savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a comprehensive suite of products and services including retirement planning, life insurance and accident and health insurance. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of more than 260,000 agents and over 21,000 employees across Asia Pacific, AIA serves the holders of over 23 million individual policies and over 10 million participating members of group policies.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code "1299".