ClearView appoints new technology head

Insurance and wealth management provider ClearView Wealth has appointed its first head of operations and technology since forming three years ago.

Former Calliden Group chief financial officer Tony Thomas will report directly to ClearView managing director Simon Swanson upon joining the firm on April 11 this year.

Swanson established ClearView Wealth in June 2010 by acquiring and combining Bupa Australia’s life insurance and wealth management businesses with MMC Contrarian.

ClearView initially appointed MMC Contrarian program director Kim Watson to the role of head of technology and projects. Watson left the firm last May; Swanson denied that Thomas’ role was a replacement.

“We’ve had some very strong growth as a company and we’re continuing to invest,” he told iTnews.

Swanson said ClearView was in a good position technologically with its Ebix OneOffice back-office platform running across the business.

The company told investors last month that it would continue to invest in back-end automation and efficiency throughout the 2013 financial year, after having finalised a $263 million takeover bid last October.

Thomas’ newly created role assumes some responsibilities of chief operating officer Barry Odes, who previously led operations, technology and distribution channels.

Swanson said chief operating officer Odes would continue to lead distribution of ClearView products, reporting directly to him.