Asteron Life NZ has appointed four non-executive directors as parent Acenda Group moves to combine the insurer with Resolution Life New Zealand.

Acenda is awaiting regulatory approval to merge the two under the Acenda Life New Zealand brand.

It recently appointed Bank of New Zealand director Barbara Chapman as the next chair of Asteron Life and she has announced four directors to replace current board members.

Simon Tyler, Keith Taylor, Anne Blackburn and Rachel Walsh will become non-executive directors next month.

Mr Tyler is the current chair of Asteron Life NZ and Mr Taylor is a non-executive director of Asteron and a former group MD of Tower.

Ms Blackburn is chair of Resolution Life NZ and Ms Walsh is a non-executive director of Asteron Life NZ, and a director of IAG and securities market operator NZX.

Ms Chapman says the four have extensive governance and leadership expertise in banking, financial services, life insurance and risk management.

Julia Raue, Alison O’Connell, Michael Schubert and Karen Scheirlinck will retire from the Asteron and Resolution boards.

Nippon Life acquired Resolution Life last year, including the Asteron business in New Zealand that was previously owned by Suncorp.