IAG’s managing director and CEO Mike Wilkins has appointed
Peter Harmer to lead its new division
IAG Labs.
Harmer,
who was appointed in March to the role of chief digital officer, will become chief executive IAG Labs with responsibility for driving digital and innovation across IAG and its brands.
Wilkins said the new division will be IAG’s digital hub for innovation, bringing together a number of existing functions as well as creating some new incubator areas which will specifically explore new opportunities across the broader business.
He said the appointment was critical to enable IAG to continue to deliver to its customers in an innovative and effective way.
“Our rapidly changing operating environment means we must continue to explore new ways of doing business with our customers.
“The shift to digital in particular is happening at an incredible pace, and we see a significant opportunity to evolve quickly in this area.
“Since taking on the role of chief digital officer in March, Peter has been looking at how we can take advantage of the shift to digital and be more inventive, which is why we’ve created IAG Labs,” Wilkins said.
IAG Labs will bring together existing technology and project management teams across the company and also includes a new customer insights capability, a centralised digital product and service development team and a venturing unit focused on new business opportunities and disruptive technology.
Harmer said he was looking forward to moving IAG further into the digital world.
“This is an exciting opportunity for IAG to be more strategic, agile and innovative in how we deliver to our customers as we build this new division,” he said.
However, there had been some collateral damage with the new move.
The company said in its statement: “As part of these changes, chief executive enterprise operations, Alex Harrison, has decided to leave IAG.
“Mr Harrison joined IAG in 2010 as COO for its then Australia Direct division.”
Wilkins acknowledged the ‘significant contribution’ Harrison had made in his time at IAG and wished him well in his future endeavours.
IAG also announced that its chief strategy officer, Leona Murphy, will take on additional responsibility for the Enterprise Operations division which is responsible for support services across IAG’s Australian business including people and culture, procurement and supply chain.
Murphy joined the IAG executive team in 2007 and the company said she has significant operational, strategic and human resources experience gained during her 20 years’ experience in the general insurance industry.
