AIA regional CEO Bill Lisle dies at 57

Apr 21, 2022

Lisle oversaw AIA’s business operations in Thailand, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka and was also the group chief distribution officer since 2011.

AIA Group’s regional chief executive Bill Lisle has died at the age of 57, the Hong Kong-based life insurer said on Thursday. He served the company for over 11 years.

Based in Hong Kong, Lisle was responsible for AIA’s businesses operating in Thailand, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka. He was also the group’s chief distribution officer, taking charge of agency distribution, partnership distribution, digital platform partnership channel and corporate solutions.

“We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Bill Lisle, AIA Regional Chief Executive and Group Chief Distribution Officer,” AIA said in an email statement without disclosing the cause of his death.

Lisle has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He joined AIA in January 2011 as the group chief distribution officer, based in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, shortly after AIA went public in October 2010.

“Bill was an extraordinarily capable leader who had enormous, positive impact on AIA and in our communities across Asia. To many, Bill was a dear friend, mentor and colleague. Bill was also an exemplary family man and our thoughts and condolences go out to his beloved family,” AIA wrote in the statement.

AIA’s recently appointed new Sri Lanka CEO Chathuri Munaweera and Thailand CEO Nikhil Advani, with effect from May 1, were both meant to report to Lisle, according to AIA’s reply to AsianInvestor’s enquiry on the two appointments on April 11.

The life insurer declined to comment on the handover of his responsibilities. “Our sole focus at this time is on supporting those close to Bill," the statement wrote.

Lisle took the role as Malaysia CEO from December 2012 to May 2015, and led the large-scale and successful integration of ING Malaysia after its acquisition by the AIA in 2012. He became regional chief executive in June 2015 and relocated to Hong Kong.

Prior to AIA, Lisle also served as managing director of South Asia at British life insurer Aviva in Malaysia and president and CEO with PCA Life Insurance in Korea.

AIA is one of the largest life insurance companies in Asia, covering 18 markets in the region, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. As of the end of 2021, its assets under management stood at $340 billion, according to its 2021 annual results released on March 11.