Allianz Insurance hires first chief analytics officer from Willis Towers Watson

Allianz Insurance has created a new position of chief analytics officer to grow its capabilities in data and pricing, to embed and co-ordinate a single analytics strategy across its commercial business.

Chris Varley (pictured) will join the insurer from Willis Towers Watson (WTW) in March 2022.

Varley is currently a senior director at WTW, responsible for the commercial lines pricing, product, claims and underwriting consulting proposition. In this role, he has been developing and delivering cutting edge analytics in the commercial insurance market and has worked with Allianz at a group and UK level.

Prior to WTW, Varley was with Zurich Insurance for 13 years in various roles, most recently as head of underwriting transformation, responsible for defining and leading the Underwriting Transformation Programme, which focused on data-led decision making.

In his new role, Varley will report to Simon McGinn, CEO of Allianz Commercial, who said: “I’m delighted to be welcoming Chris to this new position. The appointment of a chief analytics officer reflects our ambition to embed and co-ordinate analytics across the whole of our Commercial business, underlining its importance as a core foundation for our future success.

“Chris brings many years of experience and tremendous knowledge of the market which will complement the skills of his new team.”

Varley added: “It’s a very exciting time to be joining Allianz and to be taking on a leading role in the adoption and development of the latest analytic techniques and tools in support of its Commercial business. I’m looking forward to playing my part as a member of a truly customer-focused and enthusiastic team, committed to bringing the best solutions and outcomes for brokers and policyholders.”

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