Allianz Global Assistance USA Announces Leadership Changes

Founders to Join Sister Company, Orbitz Veteran Takes Over as CEO

RICHMOND, Va. — Allianz Global Assistance USA, a leader in travel insurance and travel assistance and a pioneer of innovative consumer specialty insurance products like Event Ticket Protector, has announced that the company’s founders will join a new Allianz company on July 1^st.  The company also announced that a well-known travel industry executive has been recruited to take on the roles being vacated.

Jon Ansell, Chairman of Allianz Global Assistance USA and Beth Godlin, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, will join Fusion Company, a new technology venture that is being launched on July 1^st.  Incorporating the staff and resources of the former AGA Interactive Company, Fusion Company has been renamed and spun off from Allianz Global Assistance as a separate entity with Allianz as an investor.

Fusion Company is a technology pioneer with unique functionality that was initially developed within Allianz Global Assistance USA as a way to use real-time analytics and marketing to personalize travel insurance product offers.  The spin-off will allow Fusion to continue to grow acceptance of insurance offers for its travel partners while leveraging its high performance platform to serve a wide variety of global industries.  Ansell will become Chairman of Fusion Company, while AGA Interactive Company’s current President, Bob Dufour, will be President.  Godlin will become Chief Partner Services Officer.

In the mid-1980’s, Ansell and Godlin founded the predecessor to Allianz Global Assistance.  They have led the company continuously since then, and are responsible for the elevation of travel insurance into an important ancillary revenue product for airlines, online travel agencies, travel agents and other major travel suppliers.

Also on July 1^st, Allianz Global Assistance USA will welcome a new CEO.  Mike Nelson, a travel industry veteran, will become the new Chief Executive Officer.  Mike has spent over 11 years at Orbitz Worldwide and was part of the management team that launched the business.  He most recently served as its President of Partner Services and prior to that was the Global Chief Operating Officer.  At Allianz Global Assistance, Nelson will also oversee the company’s Americas Zone (U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil), and will become a member of the company’s global executive committee.

Rémi Grenier, President of Paris-based Allianz Global Assistance Group, praised Ansell and Godlin for their contributions to the company and welcomed Nelson to his new post.  “I want to thank Jon and Beth, whose many roles included starting the predecessor companies to Allianz Global Assistance USA, for their many years of leadership, dedicated service and invaluable contributions to our group.  We look forward to working with them in the years ahead,” said Grenier.  “I’d also like to welcome Mike Nelson to the Group and wish him the best of luck in his new role.  Mike is highly regarded in the travel industry and I know that his experience and business acumen will help propel the company to new heights of success.”

***

Allianz Global Assistance USA

Allianz Global Assistance USA is a leading consumer specialty insurance and assistance company with operation centers in 29 countries. In the United States, Allianz Global Assistance USA (AGA Service Company) insures 13 million customers and is best known for its Allianz Travel Insurance plans.

In addition to travel insurance, Allianz Global Assistance USA offers event ticket protection and unique assistance services such as international medical assistance and concierge services. The company also serves as an outsource provider for in-bound call center services and claims administration for health insurers, property and casualty insurers, and credit card companies.

For more information about Allianz Global Assistance USA, please visit allianzassistance.com. To learn more about Allianz Travel Insurance plans, please visit allianztravelinsurance.com or Like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AllianzTravelInsuranceUS.

Allianz Global Assistance

How can we help?

International leader in assistance, travel Insurance and health, life & home care services, today Allianz Global Assistance counts more than 10,920 employees who speak 40 different languages and work throughout the world with a network of 400,000 service providers and 180 correspondents. 250 million people, or 4% of the world’s total population, benefit from its services, which the Group provides on five continents.

Allianz

Allianz is the 20^th largest company in the world (Forbes Global 2000, 2011) and 67^th most valuable global brand (Interbrand, 2011). Allianz has 151,000 employees worldwide and 76 million customers in more than 70 countries. In 2010, Allianz had over 106.5 billion euros in revenue and over one trillion euros under management. In the US, Allianz brands include:

•             Allianz Life

•             Allianz Global Investors

•             PIMCO

•             Fireman’s Fund

•             Euler Hermes

•             And now, Allianz Global Assistance

# # #