Changing tracks for the love of insurance

Anup Rau, new chief executive of Reliance Life Insurance, is a man of many talents who loves experimenting with new things.

Primarily trained for a career in FMCG, he shifted to insurance when the opportunity came his way.

He chose the insurance sector as it makes a difference to society, he says.

As an insurance professional, he had the chance to see the first set of payments being made to the victims of the 2003 Mumbai blasts, which greatly inspired him.

He is also a believer in women empowerment and says insurance is one way to make them self-reliant.

Rau, 39, joins Reliance Life Insurance from HDFC Life Insurance and brings with him over 17 years of industry experience.

As the head of sales and distribution in HDFC Life, he was responsible for managing sales commercials, distribution operations

and sales support.

Some of the key strategic initiatives undertaken by him in his previous role with HDFC Life include building of new channels, transformation of the agency channel, diversification of product mix and strengthening of bancassurance business.

Before joining HDFC, he was the national head (bancassurance, alliances and international business) at ICICI Prudential Life.

Rau is a pet lover and always had dogs around him while growing up.

He, however, does not have one at present, as his daughter is allergic to them.

A firm believer in ‘hard work will overtake talent’, Rau has worked across different functions in the life insurance industry.

He is also an avid reader and plays cricket and chess.

Rau is also associated with and supports a charity which provides education to orphans. Rau’s appointment is subject to the approval of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India.