ACORD Names Bill Hartnett Head of Innovation

As ACORD develops standards and related services for the insurance industry, Hartnett will play a central role in finding new methods of implementation and opportunities for collaboration, as well as focusing on opportunities for new development.

Anthony R. O’Donnell //

(Image credit: Dollar Photo Club.)

Insurance standards organization ACORD (Pearl River, N.Y.) has named Bill Hartnett Head of Innovation. In his new role, Hartnett, former Head of Financial Services at Microsoft, is tasked at ACORD with spearheading initiatives to bring new ways of thinking and doing business to the organization and the industry at-large, according to an ACORD statement.

“ACORD is uniquely positioned in the insurance industry, with insurers, agents, brokers, solution providers, regulators, legislators and many other influencers,” Hartnett comments. “Having served on the ACORD Board of Directors and as a longtime volunteer for the organization, I was able to participate in its growth and change over the years. I’m looking forward to bringing even more to the table as a member of the ACORD team.”

ACORD notes what it calls a significant contribution on the part of Hartnett as creator of the ACORD Insurance Innovation Challenge (AIIC) insurance-specific innovation competition. Taking place at the ACORD2015 event this November in Boca Raton, the AIIC will highlight pitches by 12 finalists in two categories, ACORD Innovators and Insurance Disruptors.

“This is a critical time not only for ACORD, but for the insurance industry,” comments Greg Maciag, CEO, ACORD. “It is not enough to keep a finger on the pulse of change today, action must also be taken. Consumer and business expectations are driving the change in technology as well as our business models, products and distribution channels. There is no one better qualified to fill this role for ACORD than Bill Hartnett.”

Change Agent

Hartnett spent nearly 20 years as Microsoft’s top executive in financial services. He expanded Microsoft’s presence in the insurance vertical, establishing the firm as an innovator, thought leader and change agent. Under Hartnett’s leadership, Microsoft’s financial services organization grew from a startup to a global business among the company’s most strategic and demanding customers.

As ACORD develops standards and related services for the insurance industry, Hartnett will play a central role in finding new methods of implementation and opportunities for collaboration, as well as focusing on opportunities for new development, according to the ACORD statement.

Anthony R. O’Donnell // Anthony O'Donnell is Executive Editor of Insurance Innovation Reporter. For nearly two decades, he has been an observer and commentator on the use of information technology in the insurance industry, following industry trends and writing about the use of IT across all sectors of the insurance industry. He can be reached at AnthODonnell@IIReporter.com or (503) 936-2803.

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