Allianz goes direct in Europe with new CEO

Germany-based insurance group Allianz is consolidating its European direct business by establishing a new pan-European risk carrier and has appointed Bart Schlatmann CEO of this operation.

Allianz is creating a new unit which will operate online instead of via agents. Allianz currently operates in the market through thousands of insurance agents.

The reorganisation will start by combining the direct businesses in Germany (AllSecur DE), the Netherlands (AllSecur NL), Italy (Genialloyd) and Spain (Fenix Directo).

Schlatmann (pictured below) joins Allianz from Russia’s Sberbank, where he served as chief transformation officer, responsible for the digital overhaul of client services. Before that, he worked at the ING Group for 22 years, spending his last 10 years there as chief operating officer of ING Netherlands. He will report to chief business transformation officer Ivan de la Sota who is leading the move of the group operations to a digital distribution model.

“I am thrilled that a leader like Bart will join our Allianz team,” said de la Sota. “His proven track record in helping businesses transform into digital players with a clear focus on simplicity and agility for the benefit of customers makes him the perfect fit for this role.”

In his previous roles, Schlatmann has led the redefinition of corporate strategy to develop banking omnichannels based on digital innovators and to implement agile concepts across large organizations, according to Allianz.

Schlatmann said: “I am excited to join Allianz, a group that is transforming to make products and services easy and intuitive for our customers. I am looking forward to contributing my experience of reshaping organizational structures in the European direct business to empower our employees, to boost productivity and adapt the organization to the changing needs of our customers”.

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