People

Our People

Our people are the key to our success. We invite you to browse through some of this industry's most respected names.


L to R James Downie, Graham Osborn, Ron Hardy, Chris Medin, Andrew Davidson, Gerry Swan and Paul Forster The Compliance & Regulations Team

LSOS OFFERS GREAT SERVICE TO LIFE, SUPERANNUATION
AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES

LSOS was created as Australian life, superannuation and funds management companies - following the spate of takeovers and mergers - have recognised the unique benefits of outsourcing, especially as they continue to shed full-time staff, trim costs and focus on core competencies. Federal Government figures show the number of registered life insurance companies in Australia has fallen 56 to 37 over the last few years.

Managing Director of LSOS and experienced industry professional, Mr Chris Medin, said "We are providing experts to support the technical, compliance/regulation, marketing, administration and product management activities of funds management, life insurance and superannuation companies, with our people available on a short or long term basis".

He added, "Many life and superannuation companies, in their quest to create economies of scale following their restructures, have shed thousands of highly qualified and experienced staff in recent years, many of whom are lost to the industry forever. LSOS is cost effectively and efficiently carrying out a range of projects without the clients incurring the ongoing costs of full-time staff".

Major companies like Citibank, NRMA, Norwich Union, FAI Life and CBA/Colonial have already utilised some of LSOS's range of specialised services, which includes product development, business retention, actuarial and compliance issues, troubleshooting, managing legacy products, marketing, research and development and human resources. All our clients have re-engaged our services on additional assignments.

"Overseas experience shows that outsourcing will continue to grow in the Australian financial services industry, as local companies gain further understanding of the tremendous benefits that this management tool provides", said Mr Medin.

LSOS's well-qualified business advisers each have more than 25 years industry experience. They can provide a full range of actuarial services, general advice on superannuation and compliance, regulation, technical assistance, project work, information design, claims assessment and management, or assist with almost any project that requires a broad view of the market.

Mr Medin has spent his entire working career in the life, superannuation and funds management industries, having held senior positions at companies like Zurich Australia, Advance Life, Capita Financial Group, Associated National Life and Prudential Assurance.

Other LSOS advisers include disability insurance, life underwriting and claims specialist, Mr Andrew Davidson; business development and sales management, Mr James Downie; the extensive superannuation expertise in all technical product management and marketing aspects provided by Mr Paul Forster; superannuation technical specialist and paraplanning, Ron Hardy; systems, administration and information design expertise from Mr Gerry Swan and a full range of actuarial services from Mr Graham Osborn.

A compliance and regulation team was set up, with George Gleeson providing sales counselling and technical support and Ashley Owen a corporate adviser.

LSOS also offers legal, investments, IT, web design and financial services expertise through its network of affiliates.

Mr Medin concluded, "All life, superannuation and funds management companies are suffering from critical backlogs of work that their overstretched in-house resources cannot address quickly and easily - and LSOS is fulfilling that demand".

Andrew Davidson	Risk, Underwriting and Claims
	"In the underwriting and claims assessment of life business, especially where this relates to disability insurance, no amount of theory will ever produce the high results that experience can deliver. "
Andrew has over 30 years experience in the life and superannuation industries, having worked for a number of leading firms including Tower Life Australia, Australian Casualty & Life, Yorkshire-General Life and Legal & General. Andrew's wide-ranging brief at LSOS includes: Product design and advice CIB & policy wordings/design Disability underwriting guidelines Staff training and product audits Claims management procedures Audit and staff training Claims investigation services Portfolio reviews. Andrew is the LSOS senior life underwriter and a specialist trainer in underwriting and claims assessment skills. He is also a lawyer.
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James Downie	Business Development
	"When it comes to gaining credibility in the market, regular communication and high standards of service to advisers will produce better long term support than even exceptional short term fund performance".
In his 30+ years in the life and superannuation industries, James has worked for several leading companies, including Advance Funds Management, National Mutual and T & G Mutual Life Assurance. He holds vast experience in business development and sales management with specialist skills in developing relationships within the Network of Independent Financial Advisers. He is also an accomplished presenter at industry conferences and seminars and holds the appropriate qualifications to devise and develop advisor accreditation programs. His expert knowledge is also vital in maximising product and service sales for LSOS clients.
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Paul Forster	Superannuation Solutions
	"It is very easy for Super Fund Trustees to miss one or more of the Compliance Regulations requirements in their day-to-day administration of Superannuation Funds. However, even a slight slip can jeopardise the viability of an entire fund".
Paul's background in superannuation spans over 30 Years and culminated in his role as the National Superannuation Manager for a large UK based insurance & funds management group. Paul has specialised in the highly technical issues of superannuation and has gained his technical knowledge in line with all the changes in regulations. His expertise not only covers the technical fields of compliance and regulations, but he also offers wide experience in the marketing of superannuation products and services as well as in the critical backup services to advisers. He also holds extensive experience in product development, packaging of sales concepts and ideas for use by advisers and in the production of regular updates on changes in regulations and translating these into opportunities. Paul holds a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Marketing; he is a qualified trainer of staff and advisers, having been a lecturer at the University of Technology and a tutor for the Australian Insurance Institute's Education Program.
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George Gleeson	Sales and Marketing Presenter and Counsellor - Compliance & Business Development
	"People are the face of any organisation. Sales and marketing teams must have a professional approach and outlook and provide value-added services to clients. Your people can be the major differentiator."
George has been actively involved in the Superannuation, Insurance and Financial Services industry for the past twenty years. He brings a wealth of experience in direct sales and sales management, product development, market strategy, financial advising and providing customer support services. He also has management skills with emphasis on sales and marketing, financial control, counselling and motivating others to achieve organisational goals. He holds a record of successes in: initiating projects to achieve profitable results through an understanding of market opportunities building strong sales units and motivating people negotiating to provide "win-win" solutions contributing to major decision-making (with the ability to view problems from a different perspective). He also has strong talents in reporting and addressing at board level and possesses the ability to communicate with all sectors of the community, from the boardroom to factory floor. He is accustomed to public speaking at large or small gatherings of people.
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Ron Hardy	Retirement Planning
	"Most people nearing retirement have no idea how they can use the complex regulations to maximise their entitlements from the taxation and social security systems "
Ron's long history in the life and superannuation industries has allowed him to develop a detailed understanding of SIS, tax and retirement planning techniques. In addition to the above areas, Ron's role at LSOS sees him focus on strategies for people in the 50 - 70 year age group, including RBL's, salary sacrifice, spouse contributions, super surcharge and pension annuities. Ron is also involved in customer service and business systems where he provides customers and their advisers, as well as accountants and lawyers, with assistance on complex technical issues and where he reviews the efficacy of communications and systems delivery. His superior knowledge of reporting obligations makes him the ideal person to provide advice on technical questions from administrators and systems analysts. Ron's other role at LSOS is to assist in the assessment and management of disability claims. He has had over ten years experience as claims manager during his career with Tyndall and ANZ Life.
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Chris Medin	Marketing & Troubleshooting, Compliance and MD of LSOS
	"Despite the increasing volume of work and the decreasing number of jobs, there are few new problems and even fewer new solutions in the life, superannuation and financial services industries. Experience in combination with modern principles, flexibility and innovation are the best weapons in delivering your promises and gaining a competitive advantage".
LSOS' Managing Director, Chris Medin, leads a highly trained team of experts. Chris has spent his entire career in the life, superannuation and funds management industries, having held senior positions at companies like Zurich Australia, Advance Life, Capita Financial Group, Associated National Life and Prudential Assurance. Chris' expertise covers a broad spectrum of industry areas including: product development/management and business retention of traditional and investment products for both Super and Non-Super classes troubleshooting, marketing and sales services conferences and conventions human resources. Chris is an Associate of the Australian Insurance Institute and is also a member of the Australian Insurance Institute (All) and the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA).
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Graham Osborn	Actuarial
	"The best products and the best performance come when the actuary puts on his entrepreneurial hat while keeping his eye on the bottom line".
Graham's 30 years in the life and superannuation industries have seen him acquire an excellent understanding of actuarial services. Actuarial services that Graham provides at LSOS include product development, actuarial audit, valuation, MoS and embedded value calculations and experience analysis. Superannuation services provided by Graham include trustee services, member choice issues, investment strategy, asset allocation, benefit design, software appraisal, compliance issues and fund establishment.
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Ashley Owen	Corporate Advisor- Compliance

Ashley's career has covered a variety of roles at Westpac, HongKong Bank, Citibank, Coca-Cola and ANZ - including a number of senior executive roles responsible for a range of national functions including sales, marketing, customer service, credit, financial control, systems and strategic planning, together with senior line and business unit leadership roles. He has also been involved in a number of start-up businesses as a founder, investor and adviser. His career has spanned all segments of the financial services industry - from retail banking, cards, finance company, mortgage origination, commercial lending, financial planning, life, super, funds management - through to corporate finance, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and IPOs. Ashley has developed and led a number of businesses involving the marketing of services through new delivery channels in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets. Ashley's formal qualifications include a bachelor and Masters of Laws and a BA in Economic History. He has spoken at a number of industry conferences and has lectured for the Securities Institute of Australia.
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Gerry Swan	Administration Systems
	"Clear statements, expressed simply and logically is the only way to communicate through the written word. There is little point in developing the best product, CIB or documentation if its reader is unable to follow the author's intended meaning, or if your administration does not deliver your promises".
In a career spanning over 30 years in the life and superannuation industries, Gerry has worked for a variety of leading companies, including MLC Limited, Norwich Union, Capita Financial group and Yorkshire-General Life. In his role at LSOS, Gerry is in charge of the design and implementation of administrative systems for all aspects of Life Office Operations, as well as the preparation of procedural implementation. Gerry's expertise is also utilised in the creation of plain English documentation and information design in CIBs, prospectuses, letters, and the design of forms to reduce errors in their completion.
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