Axel Schell, CTO at @Allianz Technology, is nominated to the #EDLOTY Award in the Finance category! Join us on 26th October at #CIONEXT! Register here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/6963770877372968960 to find out how the finalists of the European Digital Leader of the Year 2023 are navigating the Perfect Storm!

In this #LeadershipDeepDive interview @Hendrik Deckers asked Axel how to transform a 130-year-old insurance company into a data-driven, cloud-based and agile organisation. They discussed the Cloudification Program and the “cloud first” strategy, as well as IT Decommissioning and its impact on the approach to technology of the entire Allianz Group.

Watch the full interview to find out what it means to change the organisational culture from “HiPPO to Geek” and if the “less is more philosophy” brought the expected results at Allianz Technology!

Table of contents:

01:13 | Introduction

01:38 | Axel’s background

03:21 | About Allianz Technology

04:16 | Drivers for change at Allianz Technology

05:50 | Business strategy

06:54 | IT Decommissioning Program

10:17 | Data migration

11:56 | Team responsibilities

13:21 | Launch of the Decommissioning Program

14:38 | Results

16:30 | Agile at Allianz Technology

17:43 | Use of automation

19:27 | The Cloudification Program

22:38 | Multi-cloud strategy

25:02 | Data centres vs. cloud

26:49 | Results of the Cloudification program

27:33 | Future cloud platform

30:44 | The role of community

32:00 | IT & Digital organisation

33:42 | Operating model

35:35 | Being data-driven

37:41 | KPI Dashboards

40:39 | The role of the CTO

43:42 | Management style

46:36 | Personality

48:40 | Attracting talent

50:16 | Leadership style

53:43 | MBTI profile

58:17 | Personal mantra

59:24 | Core values

1:03:01 | Mentors

1:05:13 | Failures & lessons learned

1:06:49 | Best things in life

1:07:44 | Worst things in life

1:08:58 | Loves and fears

1:10:48 | Advice for aspiring digital leaders