Allianz UK has announced two significant appointments to its senior leadership team: Hanna Kam (pictured left) as chief risk officer John Berry’s successor and Jason Howes (pictured right) as the company’s first-ever chief transformation officer.
Effective on June 1, the leadership changes are part of Allianz’s strategic efforts to enhance its presence and growth in the UK market, alongside initiatives to boost consumer and market awareness of the Allianz brand.
Pending regulatory approval, Kam will assume the position of chief risk officer and join the Allianz UK executive committee next month. She previously served for nearly 10 years as group chief risk officer at Hiscox, where she managed enterprise risk and compliance on a global scale.
A qualified actuary, Kam will bring more than 25 years of global insurance industry experience – including time spent in senior positions at EY and Zurich Australia – to Allianz.
Berry, Kam’s predecessor, is stepping down after a decade at the UK operations to pursue new opportunities within the wider Allianz Group. The WTW alumnus was personal lines chief underwriting officer before he took on his current position in January 2020.
“John has played a key role in the history of Allianz UK, including as chief underwriting officer of personal lines, alongside setting up the joint venture with LV= and then navigating COVID and more recent market challenges as chief risk officer,” Allianz Holdings chief executive Colm Holmes noted.
“He helped to bring the different parts of our business together to create one Allianz. I’d like to thank John for his huge contribution.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Berry stated: “We have built a great platform for future success, and I am very proud of all of Allianz’s achievements. It’s been a fantastic privilege to work with Colm and the executive committee over the years, and I wish the team the very best for the future.”
Additionally, Allianz UK created the new position of chief transformation officer, to be filled by an internal hire. Howes, with nearly 27 years of industry experience, has spent over two decades at Allianz and most recently served as business transformation director. In his new role, he will oversee all major transformation projects for Allianz UK.
The newly appointed C-suite leaders will both report to Holmes.
The CEO said: “This is a pivotal and exciting time for us as we align our businesses to deliver the combined strength of one Allianz, and work towards becoming the number one general insurer in the UK. These two senior leaders take up vitally important roles and will help drive our strategic momentum for growth.
“I’m delighted Hanna is joining us; she brings a wealth of global insurance industry experience and a compelling blend of board, risk, and regulatory exposure. She has a track record of strong leadership and excels at delivering change and results in complex environments. Her insights will be invaluable in supporting the overall growth strategy for the business.
“And as we move our business forward, it is imperative that we continue to manage major change projects effectively, so we have created a new role of chief transformation officer, which I am delighted to welcome Jason into. He’s achieved a huge amount at Allianz, and I’m sure he will continue to do so.”
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