IAG to implement new Australian operating model 22/05/2014 Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG) will implement a new operating model for its Australian operations to create a more customer-focused and efficient organisation. The new model will comprise two customer-facing divisions – Personal Insurance and Commercial Insurance – supported by a new Enterprise Operations division. This will allow IAG to better leverage its scale and insurance expertise to deliver better outcomes for its customers, people and shareholders. From 1 July 2014, in Australia IAG will have three divisions:    Personal Insurance to be led by Andy Cornish, currently Chief Executive of Australia Direct. This division will provide personal insurance products and will include the affinity and financial institution partnerships which are currently part of CGU; Commercial Insurance to be led by Peter Harmer, currently Chief Executive of CGU. This division will provide insurance to business customers and will include Retail Business Insurance (RBI) which is currently part of Australia Direct; and Enterprise Operations to be led by Alex Harrison, currently Chief Operating Officer for Australia Direct. This division will provide support services including information technology, people & culture and procurement & supply chain. IAG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Wilkins said: "Our new operating model will allow our Australian operations to better respond to changing customer expectations and needs. We also expect that the revised structure will lay the foundation for us to derive maximum value from our planned Wesfarmers underwriting business acquisition. "We must continue to anticipate, adapt and respond to our customers' changing needs. The new operating model will allow our Personal Insurance and Commercial Insurance divisions to be entirely focused on meeting those needs. "We're in a strong financial position and now is the right time to set ourselves up for the next phase of development and that's what we're doing. We are excited about the opportunities which our revised structure in Australia will provide, and the even stronger future it creates for our organisation,” Mr Wilkins said. Under the new operating model, Australian customers will continue to be offered insurance under IAG's market-leading brands, including NRMA Insurance, SGIO, SGIC, CGU and Swann Insurance. Further details of the new operating model and its financial impacts will be provided at the FY14 results announcement on 19 August 2014. Alex Harrison biography Alex Harrison was appointed Chief Operating Officer at IAG's Australia Direct division in 2010, responsible for customer-facing operations from sales to claims, including supply chain management, operational strategy and direct commercial business. He has 25 years' experience in financial services in a career that has encompassed the insurance and banking industries. Before joining IAG, Alex worked in a variety of senior roles in large UK financial services companies including Lloyds Banking Group and HBOS. Alex is an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute in the UK and holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Biochemist.