IAG ditches CIO title, promotes IT chief in restructure

Insurer IAG has restructured its operations to make way for a new focus on data and customer-facing technology, driven by digital-savvy chief executive officer Peter Harmer.

Harmer, who was promoted into the top job in October, has wasted no time stamping his mark on the organisation by overhauling its operating units and leadership team.

IAG today said it had split its operations into two consumer and business segments, which will be supported by three new divisions focused on customer experience, technology and operations.

IAG's digital division, IAG Labs, has been reborn as Digital Labs. It will provide digital and innovation services, hunt for emerging technology, and build apps and ecosystems while simplifying core platforms.

The new Customer Labs division will lead customer experience and products through data and insights, as well as new business incubations.

And the new Operations Division will take over much of the work previously performed by the enterprise operations division, looking after operational functions like procurement and supply chain management.

Chief information officer Claire Rawlins will replace her title with 'group executive, digital and technology' and take over responsibility for the Digital Labs division, reporting into Harmer.

It marks a promotion for Rawlins, who as CIO had reported into the head of IAG Labs - which at the time was also Harmer.

The swallowing up of the CIO title follows the abolishment of the chief technology title and role in August this year. Rawlins had originally joined the insurer as its CTO in June.

Former chief analytics officer Julie Batch will take over the Customer Labs division as chief customer officer, and Andy Cornish will serve as chief operating officer in charge of the Operations Division until former Suncorp executive Mark Milliner joins IAG in the role mid next year.

Part of Milliner's remit will be the ongoing simplification of operational processes and systems, IAG said.