Investment professionals within insurance companies should go across department divides and contribute to product development in order to maximise their value, according to the chief investment officer (CIO) of Allianz Life North America.

Speaking at Insurance Asset Risk Americas 2018, Todd Hedtke, said: “Integration with the rest of the business is crucialand also being on the very front end of the management of the product.”

Rejecting the idea that asset liability management is strictly a matter of cash flow management, he urged those in the investment function to collaborate with colleagues in the underwriting function to ensure investment risk is treated holistically.

The critical importance of integrating the insurance and investment functions will be on the agenda at Insurance Asset Risk Americas 2019 on 16 September in New York City with a CIO/CRO panel session that will address how CIOs can validate their investments with actuarial teams.

Panellists are:

• Rick Hrabchak, CIO, Mutual of Omaha
• Thomas Passante, CRO, Everest Re Group
• Kevin Redgate, senior vice president and US CIO, MetLife
• Eric Sandberg, CRO, National Life Group

Further information on the conference is available here.