Allianz executive swap program creates stronger company culture

Allianz is doing its bit to create a strong company culture – by creating a new human resources (HR) programme that allows senior executives to shadow their colleagues.

The Allianz Partners' Executive Excellence programme is a one-week, in-person experience for 30 participants from around the world. Participants are sponsored by a board member who presents the company strategy, vision and ambitions.

Participants then share their respective industry and market knowledge, identify best ways to tackle market challenges and realise opportunities together.

They are also invited to participate in several team building activities including a two-hour Digital Escape Game, to reinforce their company knowledge and digital skills.

Participants also get to know their counterpart's responsibilities, understand other functions in the company, gain a better perspective, and boost their creativity.

According to a Leathwaite 2019 Global HR Leadership Survey, senior executives can play a key role as culture carriers. Clarity of company strategy and leadership development are top areas for improvement required by large organisations.

 "The job swapping is a truly unique experience which allows us to put into practice the common understanding we shared during our EEP session," explains Allianz Partners New Zealand chief financial officer Alesha Keeler.

"It gives a sense of continuity to the effort of building better collaboration across functions and regions. We get a better perspective of how each person and function contributes to our business, and how we can better support each other and not just see each role and team as a silo.

The company says more than 300 executives have participated in the programme since its launch.

"We must improve our organisational processes constantly and promote a common culture if we want to be an agile, innovative and effective partner for our customers," comments Allianz Partners Group human resources and change management director Claudia Reichmuth.

"The Executive Excellence program not only enables participants to build their knowledge of the company, industry, and markets, it also empowers them to become better, more collaborative and inspired leaders, an essential part of building a One Company Culture.

The Executive Excellence programme is also rolling out further into the organisation. It has been redesigned for employees from sales, underwriting, marketing and operations functions, so that it can improve effectiveness through smoother collaboration between these functions, and to optimise customer experience of all four lines of business.

Nine sessions have taken place so far this year.

Allianz Automotive, Allianz Travel and Allianz Care are present in 76 countries. 21,500 employees speak 70 languages and handle more than 65 million cases each year.