Appointment comes as Allianz reshuffles executive ranks and looks to focus more on customer centricity
Telstra’s Nick Adams is leaving the telco after six years to head marketing efforts at Allianz Australia. His appointment comes amid a reshuffling of executive ranks at the insurance company aimed at improving customer relations.
Adams is joining Allianz as chief market manager, with a remit to help the organisation better centre its business and go-to-market strategy around customers. In addition, Allianz has extended the responsibilities of its incoming chief risk officer, Lori Callahan, to include specific accountability for representing the customer in all key decisions, sitting on the leadership team.
Adams was previously director of CRM, digital and loyalty marketing at Telstra for six years, joining the executive leadership team in September 2016. Prior to this, he had a brief stint as acting then permanent chief marketing officer at Westpac, and also held the title of head of credit cards marketing and direct marketing before this. His resume also includes stints with American Express, Citi and MBF.
In a statement, Allianz’s outgoing managing director, Niran Peiris, said Adams’ background across marketing, data and digital made him the ideal candidate for the role.
“Allianz’s renewal agenda is all about making customer experience the top priority for all our actions and today’s announcements are tangible steps on this path,” Peiris said. “Nick has extensive experience in all aspects of customer engagement and we are pleased he will join our talented team.”
Peiris is being replaced as chief by current deputy MD, Richard Feledy, in January 2018. Feledy said Adams was a key appointment as he looks to shape his leadership team.
“These appointments show we are serious about building on our focus on customers and advancing our digital agenda,” he said. “We have in Nick someone deeply skilled in creating a customer focus and a track record of delivering customer programs across Australia’s largest retail brands.”
Callahan is currently a general manager at Allianz and takes over the reins as chief risk officer in November.
There’s no word yet as to a replacement for Adams in the role at Telstra.
Follow CMO on Twitter: @CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn: CMO ANZ, join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia, or check us out on Google+:google.com/+CmoAu
In the third and final episode of our 3-part CMO50 video series exploring modern marketing and why it’s become a matter of trust, we’re delighted to be joined by Telstra’s former CMO and now digital services and sales executive, Jeremy Nicholas, and Adobe VP Marketing Asia-Pacific and Japan, Duncan Egan.
Flash back to the classic film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Television-obsessed Mike insists on becoming the first person to be ‘sent by Wonkavision’, dematerialising on one end, pixel by pixel, and materialising in another space. His cinematic dreams are realised thanks to rash decisions as he is shrunken down to fit the digital universe, followed by a trip to the taffy puller to return to normal size.
Why is it there is no shortage of leadership development materials, yet outstanding leadership is so rare? Despite having access to so many leadership principles, tools, systems and processes, why is it so hard to develop and improve as a leader?
As a nation united by sport, brands are beginning to learn money alone won’t talk without aligned values and action. If recent events with major leagues and their players have shown us anything, it’s the next generation of athletes are standing by what they believe in – and they won’t let their values be superseded by money.
