Zurich Hires Former AIG Exec as Chief Operations and Technology Officer
January 9, 2014 by Marie Suszynski, Best's News Service correspondent
ZURICH – Zurich Insurance Group has made Robert Dickie its chief operations and technology officer and a member of the group executive committee, effective March 2014.
Dickie will be responsible for shared services, information technology, procurement and sourcing, and operational transformation initiatives.
Most recently, Dickie was chief operations and systems officer and a member of the global leadership team at American International Group Inc. since 2008. From 2003 through 2008, Dickie worked as group operations director and was a member of the executive committee for the U.K.-based bank Bradford & Bingley plc. He is rejoining Zurich, having worked as managing director of U.K. enterprise for Zurich in the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2002.
In the interim, Markus Nordlin has been leading group operations in addition to his role as chief information technology officer and will continue to do so until Dickie’s position becomes effective in March.
Zurich is in the process of implementing a three-year strategic plan beginning this year in which it might dispose of poorly performing operations and concentrate on its strengths. The company also said it would increase operating earnings through careful underwriting and disciplined investment. It’s three priority areas — corporate, commercial mid-market, and retail — will absorb 62% of its capital.
By the end of 2016, Zurich hopes to remit more than US$9 billion to its holding company (Best’s News Service, Dec. 5, 2013).
In December, Zurich appointed George Quinn its new chief financial officer and member of the group executive committee, effective, May 1, 2014 (Best’s News Service, Dec. 16, 2013).
Zurich Insurance Group is a multiline insurance provider with subsidiaries in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and other markets. It offers general insurance and life insurance products and services for individuals, small businesses, midsize and large companies, and multinational corporations.
In January, Best’s Review magazine recognized Zurich North America for its technology innovations. The magazine highlighted its web portal for giving corporate customers access to their insurance programs and risk assessment data through a single platform and its risk room for its risk assessment tool helping illustrate the impact of multivariate risks on individual countries and regions and analysis of more than 80 individual risks covering more than 150 countries (Best’s News Service, Jan. 6, 2013).
Rated subsidiaries of Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. currently have a Best’s Financial Strength rating of A+ (Superior) or A (Excellent).
