The Financial Services Council (FSC) has presented TAL CEO Jim Minto with a special award for his outstanding contribution to the life insurance industry.

Mr Minto, who began his career in New Zealand working for a trust company before switching to providing advice on life cover, received the award at a dinner last week.

He rose to become MD of Tower’s Australian life business, which later broke away from its New Zealand parent. He retires as TAL CEO tomorrow, but will stay on as an Asia-Pacific director at Japanese parent Dai-ichi Life.

Other FSC award winners were Elyse Horne of Suncorp for consumer innovation; Eleanor Hartmann of NAB, young achiever; Sean McCormack of NAB for leadership; and Richard Dunkerley of Zurich, who took the “big thinking” award.