In a significant leadership development within India’s insurance sector, Suresh Agarwal has been named Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Designate of the life insurance joint venture between the Mahindra Group and Manulife, operating as Mahindra Manulife Life Insurance.

Agarwal brings nearly three decades of cross-functional experience spanning life insurance, general insurance, corporate finance, and retail lending. Over the course of his career, he has held senior leadership roles across prominent financial institutions, driving distribution expansion, product innovation, bancassurance growth, and operational scale. His expertise includes strengthening agency networks, accelerating digital adoption, and enhancing customer-centric insurance models in competitive markets.

The appointment comes at a time when India’s life insurance industry is witnessing structural transformation driven by regulatory reforms, digitisation, and increased financial inclusion. Agarwal’s strategic depth and execution-focused leadership are expected to support the company’s long-term growth roadmap and market expansion strategy.