Allianz appoints retail director

Allianz Retail has appointed Stephanie Smith as its new director of operations.

Smith has switched from her position as the company’s senior retail IT manager.

She will manage all aspects of Allianz's retail operations in the UK and India and will have responsibility for the sales and service functions of all retail product lines including Petplan, key corporate partner accounts such as VW and Allianz’s new direct motor insurance product, Your Cover.

Allianz said Smith will remain a member of the Allianz Retail mananagement board, but in a different capacity.

Smith said: “Allianz Retail launched three years ago and is now well into a number of challenging change initiatives that will transform its insurance offering for Allianz UK.

"Looking forward, the change agenda remains significant and I relish the responsibility of ensuring the business continues to deliver superb levels of operational performance and customer experience, through sustained technology development and process change.”

Smith joined Allianz in 2009 from British Airways where she had held a number of roles, latterly as head of change management for inflight services.