Van Der Wielen is expected to take up the London-based role before the end of 2011. As managing director, he will be responsible for all of Friends Life’s international businesses, including Friends Provident International, Financial Partners Business, Lombard and AmLife.
He will report directly to Andy Briggs, the CEO of Friends Life, and will become a member of the firm’s group executive committee.
“John is a high calibre executive with the key skills and experience to drive the international business forward,” said Briggs. “He brings with him tremendous knowledge of running international businesses. This will help enable us to meet our financial targets in this area.”
During his time at ANZ, Van Der Wielen was responsible for investment lending, financial planning and the firm’s private bank. Prior to this, he held several senior roles at HBOS.
As International Adviser reported last month, Sepe has led the international division at Friends Life for over six years. New business more than doubled during this time. The firm also established operations in Singapore, the UAE and Germany, and a joint venture in Malaysia.
