Chubb continues ‘transformation’ with major leadership boost in race to digitise

Property/casualty insurer has made a raft of new leadership appointments as it looks to transform and bolster its global operations and technology function.

Julie Dillman (pictured) has been appointed as digital transformation officer, with Thomas Kropp taking over as global head of operations and technology. Additionally, Shekar Pannala has been appointed global chief information officer.

Dillman in her new role will partner and work closely with Chubb's chief digital business officer Sean Ringsted and the company's senior business executives to lead the company's transformation, including how work gets done and the skills and technology employed to serve customers and distribution partners. She will continue to have executive oversight for the company's global operations and technology.

Meanwhile, Kropp will have global responsibility for technology, service operations, business resiliency, procurement, real estate and general business efficiencies. Dillman will retain direct responsibility for certain operational areas including workplace experience and flight operations.

Pannala in his new role will be responsible for the strategic direction and execution leadership of Chubb's global technology function across applications, operations and architecture as well as furthering the company's digital technology capabilities.

Dillman joined Chubb in 2016 from Travelers Insurance, where she led operations and corporatewide digital and analytics delivery. Kropp joined Chubb in 2020 from Zurich Insurance, where he served as group IT Services Officer.

Pannala has more than 25 years of technology experience. Earlier in his career at Chubb, Pannala was chief technology officer and global digital CIO. Prior to joining the company in 2017, he was CTO at S&P Global.

Chubb chairman and chief executive officer Evan Greenberg, said: " Chubb is transforming itself to a company built to thrive in the digital age. With her proven experience, character and leadership, Julie is the right executive to lead these core foundational aspects of our transformation.

"For a number of years, Julie has led our significant investments in technology and talent, building new tools, developing new skillsets and ways of doing business.  We are changing how insurance operates enterprisewide.  I have every confidence in Julie's ability to accelerate our progress and help us achieve this important strategic objective."

Dillman added: "Over the past four years, Shekar has led many of the technology initiatives underway to prepare Chubb for the future. He is a strong executive with broad and deep technical knowledge and experience, from foundational systems to emerging digital technologies.  We are pleased to elevate Shekar to this important global position as we continue to transform Chubb to a company built to thrive in the digital age."

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