BPI AIA Life Assurance Corp. has appointed Melissa Henson as its new chief executive officer (CEO), the company announced on Tuesday.

Henson joins BPI AIA from AIA Philippines Life and General Insurance Co., where she has served as chief marketing officer (CMO) since 2023. She brings nearly two decades of experience across the banking and insurance sectors, with specialized expertise in partnerships, customer strategy, and marketing.

BPI AIA is the bancassurance partnership between AIA Philippines and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), one of the largest and oldest banks in the Philippines. The joint venture leverages BPI's extensive branch network to distribute AIA's life insurance and wealth protection products to the bank's retail and corporate customers. Bancassurance has become an increasingly important distribution channel in the Philippines, where overall insurance penetration remains relatively low compared with more developed Asian markets, giving bank-based insurers significant room to expand by reaching customers through established retail banking relationships.

In her new role as CEO, Henson is expected to lead the company's overall business strategy and operations, deepen customer relationships, and drive sustainable growth.

"Melissa is a proven leader with a strong record of driving growth through customer-focused innovation and strategic partnerships. Her deep understanding of both the insurance and banking sectors, combined with her ability to build high-performing teams and trusted partnerships, positions her well to lead BPI AIA into its next stage of growth," said Jacky Chan, Regional Chief Executive and Group Chief Distribution Officer of the AIA Group and chairman of the board at BPI AIA.

AIA Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group, with operations across multiple markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

"I am thrilled to lead BPI AIA at this exciting point in our journey. I am grateful for the continued trust and support of BPI and AIA Philippines, whose longstanding partnership has been the foundation of our success. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on delivering innovative solutions, creating greater value for customers and strengthening our position as one of the Philippines' leading bancassurance companies," Henson said.

BPI AIA booked a premium income of P20.12 billion and net income of P5.7 billion in 2025, according to the latest data from the Insurance Commission, the Philippine government agency that regulates and supervises the insurance industry.

— A.M.C. Sy