IAG announced today the appointment of a new chief officer as well as the creation of a new internal division, which takes effect on 24 February. The insurance company revealed that Julie Batch has been appointed as chief strategy & innovation officer to lead the newly created ‘strategy & innovation’ division. This combines IAG’s existing strategy function with its customer labs division.
Batch was previously IAG’s chief customer officer, responsible for customer labs, with the remit for enhancing the customer experience using data and insights, as well as digital, innovation, new business incubation and venturing.
IAG also simultaneously announced that group executive technology Neil Morgan will lead an expanded ‘technology & digital’ division. This would bring together the digital teams from Australia and New Zealand, including those previously part of customer labs, and the existing group technology team.
IAG managing director and CEO Peter Harmer said the operating model changes are a logical step for the insurer as it transitions to the next phase of its strategy – with a greater emphasis on future growth for its core insurance business as well as adjacent business opportunities.
“We continue to evolve our operating model to better align our customer and corporate strategies and further foster a culture of innovation as we consider and create new and different services for our customers,” said Harmer.
This new hire and division creation come off the back of the announcement of two high profile departures from IAG, with Ben Bessell and David Harrington both leaving the insurer on 31 March.
