ANZ Wealth has seen the departure of managing director John Van Der Wielen for UK-based Friends Life, which has appointed him managing director, international.

It is understood that ANZ’s general manager of insurance, Gavin Pearce, will take on the role of acting ANZ Wealth managing director on an interim basis while a permanent replacement for Van Der Wielen is found.

Before joining ANZ, Van Der Wielen had been chief executive of Clerical Medical up until leaving the firm in February 2010 after a restructure following the merger of the insurance arms of HBOS and Lloyds. He had previously served as CEO of HBOS Financial Services.

Reporting directly to chief executive Andy Briggs, in his new role Van Der Wielen will oversee all the group’s international businesses, including  Friends Provident International, fpb (FPI’s German distribution partner), Lombard and AmLife in Malaysia. He will also become part of the Friends Life group executive committee.

Van Der Wielen succeeds Rocco Sepe, who is leaving the firm at the end of next month.

Friends Life comprises the UK operations of Friends Provident and the life assurance businesses acquired from Bupa and AXA UK.