Life insurance specialist, Gary Bennett, has over 35 years’ experience in the industry; working for a number of companies in Australia, Asia ,Mexico and the  USA. Gary currently heads Hong Kong- based North Star Consulting which provides high level strategic advice and operational support to life insurance companies, Insurtech , Fintech start ups and new companies ; with particular strength in leadership support , executive management, M&As, restructuring, distribution, products , fund raising and marketing. Gary continues to provide support to Senior Executives and businesses during periods of challenge , high growth and expansion ..

Prior to his current role, Gary was Chairman & CEO  of Seguros Monterrey New York Life in Mexico, Chairman & CEO Asia of New York Life International where he oversaw the company’s fully-owned and JV operations in the region.

Before taking these positions, Gary was the Executive Vice President and Greater China CEO where he was responsible for setting the vision and framework for the strategy of the operations and business activities in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan .

From 2005 to 2009, Gary led Max New York Life Insurance as Managing Director and CEO. Under his leadership, a wide distribution network of more than 500 offices across 250 cities in India was established. Gary began his career with New York Life International in 2004 when he was appointed President and CEO of the company’s Hong Kong operation.

Before joining New York Life International, Gary was Managing Director – North Asia, Prudential Corporation. He was a member of the PCA Regional Board, Life ExCo and Chairman of its life insurance companies in Japan and Korea as well as a Director of PCA Asset Management, Japan. Prior to this, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Mutual Group (CMG) Asia Life in Hong Kong where he led CMG’s significant growth – tripling the business in three years. He was also instrumental in establishing CMG Asia Pensions and Retirement Co. and CMG Asia Trustee. Gary Bennett held a number of senior management positions for CMG in the Asia-Pacific region – he was CEO and Chairman of Jardine CMG Consulting in Singapore and headed the team that saw CMG receive the first Australia Joint Venture Life Insurance Licenses in Vietnam and China. Gary joined CMG following successful leadership roles with Armstrong Jones Life and GIO Australia.

Gary has been a member of the Life Insurance Council in India; Chairman of its Consumer Awareness Committee; and on the Board of LIMRA India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Hong Kong. He has been a speaker at many industry conferences and seminars as well as an expert commentator on life insurance for the Gerson Lehrman Group , as global citizen with experience in over a dozen countries across cultures and varied business and regulatory environments.