Divisional Director, Risk Products

Nicholas van der Nest joined Liberty in 2009 and occupied the position of head of risk product development in 2010. In this position, where he was responsible for the risk product suite, consisting of traditional insurance products, Bancassurance and entry level market solutions. He was also responsible for the reinsurance function from a product development perspective. At 33, Nicholas is now a divisional director for risk products. His key areas of accountability are risk product development (complex risk); product development for Bancassurance and emerging consumer markets; management of the profitability of the existing in-force books through the insurance profit management function; reinsurance; management of the chief medical officer function and underwriting research and development. Under his leadership, Liberty has successfully launched four market first concepts and products: Whole of Life Lump Sum Disability, Best in breed Income Protector (including four market first benefits), Finger prick HIV and urine cotinine testing, Medical Advancement Protection on critical illness benefits. Liberty was also recognised as the winner of the “FIA Long Term Insurer of the Year 2011: Risk Product Category” Award. Nicholas received the Cover Magazine Excellence award in the long term insurance category in 2012. “One of my proudest moments has been the launch of the HIV finger prick testing. The insurance industry conducted medical underwriting through testing venous blood samples in laboratories only. The launch of the rapid testing practice therefore revolutionised the market through both quicker issue times and a significantly less invasive and improved customer experience.” Nicholas holds a bachelor of economic science from the University of the Witswatersrand and is also a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries (FFA). Nicholas obtained his Financial Planner Certificate in 2011 from the University of the Free State. He has a keen interest in most sports, but he particularly enjoys scuba diving and currently holds an advanced and deep diving speciality certification.