American International Group named former Prudential chief executive and experienced Asia hand Mark Tucker as the head of its Asian life insurance business, AIA, ahead of an expected $15bn AIA IPO.

The abrupt removal of AIA CEO Mark Wilson shows AIG chief executive Robert Benmosche is stamping his authority on the bailed-out US insurer and follows a boardroom battle at AIG that culminated in its chairman Harvey Golub quitting last week.