Melissa Cantell - more than meets the eye

The 43-year-old is less than six months into her new role and in that time has helped the team appoint Ian Clancy to the executive team as chief operating officer as well as promoting Adrian Rimington to chief risk officer.

She took up the reins at Fidelity Life after Nadine Tereora unexpectedly quit the role mid-way through the company's five-year transformation programme.

Cantell's appointment raised a few eyebrows across the industry as her most recent role was with general insurer IAG, rather than life insurance.

At IAG she was chief operating officer and she took on the role of Covid response director.

But if you have any doubts about her passion for insurance, you shouldn’t.

“I joined the industry by accident and I stayed on purpose,” she says, going on to say “it’s the most meaningful industry I have worked in".

Cantell takes the helm at Fidelity Life as it embarks on a journey of transformation – and that is one thing she is big on.

From her LinkedIn profile: “I have a particular interest in business transformations and enjoy the challenge of developing and delivering comprehensive growth or turnaround plans.”

For the full story in the latest edition of ASSET magazine, click here.