(Detail of Brandenburg Gate, Berlin. Photo credit: Couleur.)
omni:us, a Berlin-based, insurance-focused artificial intelligence (AI) vendor, has named veteran financial services executive Joost Heideman as strategic advisor to help drive the company’s global expansion plans. The appointment comes in the wake of omni:us recently opening a U.K. office in London and establishing a presence in North America. Heideman has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, was most recently CEO of Dutch mutual insurance company Univé (Arnhem).
Joost Heideman, Strategic Advisor, omni:us.
In addition to helping omni:us develop its international growth plans, Heideman will offer strategic advice about the global insurance industry and use his extensive industry contacts to help drive business development, according to an omni:us statement.
“We are delighted that such a seasoned and respected insurance leader as Joost has chosen to join omni:us at such an exciting time in the company’s history,” comments Sofie Quidenus-Wahlforss, omni:us. “Artificial intelligence is set to transform the way that insurance companies do business, and Joost will play a vital role as we help insurance companies around the world adopt this technology so that they can enjoy the transformative benefits that it can deliver.”
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“It is obvious that digital transformation is already happening in the insurance industry and it also clear that it will accelerate exponentially in years to come,” comments Heideman. “As much as the industry is trying to deal with this the best way it can, I have also seen and experienced that it can benefit strongly from teaming up with new, innovative and tech-driven players such as omni:us from outside the industry. I therefore truly believe that omni:us can make a big impact with AI in the insurance space and I am looking forward to building this success together.”
At Univé, Heideman was responsible for a major transformation program, including the digitalization and modernization of the entire company. He also served on the Executive Board of the Dutch Association of Insurers, the Dutch Platform of Mutual Insurers (which he also chaired), the Management Board of AMICE, the European Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Euresa, a European innovation platform.
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