MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life®) announced today that it has appointed Robert DeChellis to lead a new strategic business unit for the company effective January 1, 2017. DeChellis, who has led Allianz Life Financial Services LLC for more than 10 years, will be tasked with building out a group whose primary objective will be to harness the intellectual capital of the Allianz asset management and life insurance companies in the United States in order to develop unique client solutions. In addition, the group will leverage the expertise of select strategic partners outside of Allianz. DeChellis developed and ran a successful pilot of the new strategic business unit in 2015-2016.
“Robert has done an outstanding job leading Allianz Life Financial Services over the past decade,” said Allianz Life President and Chief Executive Officer Walter White. “In addition, as a result of his work we now have a unique opportunity to provide financial professionals a new and comprehensive solution for their clients.”
The new business unit led by DeChellis will be based on a strategy of promoting the benefits of holistic financial planning. Through this approach, financial professionals will have access to integrated accumulation, asset protection, and guaranteed lifetime income solutions.
“The combined risk management capabilities of Allianz Life and Allianz Global Investors allows for the creation of compelling solutions with the goal of enabling financial professionals to deliver what we believe will be even better client outcomes,” added Doug Eu, U.S. CEO of Allianz Global Investors.
DeChellis, who will report to Allianz Life Chief Distribution Officer and Allianz Life Financial Services LLC CEO Tom Burns, brings more than 25 years of financial services experience to his new role. Prior to Allianz Life Financial Services LLC, he held leadership roles with The Travelers Company/MetLife Investors, Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and Goldman Sachs & Company. DeChellis was recently elected as chairman of the board of directors for the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI).
“We are excited to continue working with Allianz Life across a number of innovative retirement solutions,” said Robert Young, managing director and head of the U.S. Financial Institutions Group for PIMCO. “PIMCO’s partnership with Allianz Life dates back to 2001 and we look forward to many successful years of partnership going forward.”
About Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, one of FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2016, has been keeping its promises since 1896. Today, it carries on that tradition, helping Americans achieve their retirement income and protection goals with a variety of annuities and life insurance products. In 2015, Allianz Life provided a total of $2.4 billion in benefit payments that supported policyholders’ financial objectives. As a leading provider of fixed index annuities, Allianz Life is part of Allianz SE, a global leader in the financial services industry with 142,000 employees in more than 70 countries worldwide. More than 85 million private and corporate customers rely on Allianz knowledge, global reach, and capital strength to help them make the most of financial opportunities. For more information about Allianz companies in the United States, including Allianz Life, Allianz Global Investors and PIMCO, visit www.allianzusa.com.
