KUALA LUMPUR, September 4 – The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the premier association of financial professionals, has announced the opening of a new Asia-Pacific office in Singapore. The establishment of this regional headquarters is aimed at enhancing member resources and benefits, fostering closer collaboration among financial professionals, and presenting greater growth opportunities in the financial industry for Malaysia and other Asian countries. With this new regional office in Singapore, financial professionals in Malaysia will have increased access to valuable expertise and networking opportunities within the esteemed MDRT community.
The office will operate in coordination with the existing MDRT headquarters in the United States and satellite offices in China and India, facilitating better coordination of global efforts and expanding support for members in the Asia-Pacific region. To ensure the successful operation of the new office, MDRT has invested in new staff members to elevate member experiences in the Asia-Pacific region. Gina van Dijk has been appointed as the new Senior Director of Global Markets, bringing her expertise in global relations and business development to the organization.
Nicole Squires will serve as the new Senior Director of Business Development, leveraging her wealth of experience in C-suite advisory and sales from the global financial services perspective. “The opening of MDRT Asia-Pacific headquarters underpins MDRT’s commitment to the industry,” said Carol Kheng, MDRT Second Vice President. “As the region’s population is increasingly aware of their need and options for financial protection, the new office aims to provide members with deeper and quicker access to knowledge, skills, advice, and best practices so they can better empower clients to make informed decisions.”
Gina van Dijk, born in Nigeria and educated in the Netherlands, brings a solid understanding of MDRT needs in the areas of strategy, association management, business development, corporate sustainability, and customer relations. Her previous experience at MCI Group, a global consulting and management agency, where she assisted European and U.S.-based associations in expanding their reach in various regions, makes her an excellent fit for her role at MDRT. “I’m very excited to be joining the MDRT team and helping to advance its global mission of professional excellence in financial services,” said van Dijk.
“The Asia-Pacific is a region of critical importance to the future of MDRT as an association, and I look forward to helping financial advisors and insurance agents reap the full benefits of their MDRT membership.” Nicole Squires, on the other hand, will lead a team focused on MDRT Family of Brands membership, member gatherings, and relationships with financial services companies in major MDRT markets. With her background as a former financial advisor and MDRT member, she understands the needs and challenges faced by financial professionals and aims to deliver even better resources to MDRT members in the region.
“I am ecstatic to be making this transition from MDRT member to MDRT staff,” said Squires. “MDRT has such a bright future in the Asia-Pacific region, and I’m honored to be part of the efforts to continue delivering even better resources to members in all three MDRT Family of Brands associations.” The new MDRT Asia-Pacific office will provide support for various MDRT events in the region, including the upcoming 2023 MDRT Global Conference in Singapore, scheduled for August 27–30. The conference will feature sessions presented by leading financial professionals and inspiring leaders, networking opportunities for members, sessions for MDRT Global Services members, and more.
