ANZ Wealth managing director John Van Der Wielen has resigned to take up an opportunity in the United Kingdom.

ANZ general manager insurance Gavin Pearce will take on the role of acting ANZ Wealth managing director, while the search for a permanent replacement is underway.

Van Der Wielen will stay with ANZ for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition before taking up his new position in London at the end of the year.

He will join financial services and life insurance company Friends Life, which has about $175 billion in funds under management, where he has been appointed as the company's managing director of its international arm.

Van Der Wielen will join at the end of the year, reporting directly to chief executive Andy Briggs, and become part of the group's executive committee.

Friends Life was formed last year through the amalgamation of the UK operations of Friends Provident and the life assurance businesses of Bupa and Axa UK.

"We are disappointed that John is leaving. He has bought together the previously separate wealth businesses to form ANZ Wealth which covers more than 3,500 staff, 2.5 million customers, and the second largest network of financial planners in Australia," ANZ chief executive Australia Phil Chronican said.

"We have built a solid foundation for ANZ Wealth over the last two years," he said.

"We have a clear strategy and I'm confident we can continue to deliver against this by leveraging the strength of our wealth businesses and ANZ's distribution network, while also capitalising on the regulatory reform currently underway," Chronican said.