Axel Schell is fostering an agile mindset at Allianz and transforms the internal IT entity into a powerful customer centric tech company. He joined the Executive Management Team of Allianz Technology, the IT company of the Allianz group, as the Chief Technology and Transformation Officer in January 2021.

His mission and passion to transform the IT landscape and the ways of working was just rewarded with the “CIO of the Year” award by the German speaking CIO Magazine.

He started this transformation journey already in his previous role as CTO of Allianz Deutschland AG where he led one the biggest IT transfer programs of the company: The approach was to move all IT units –900 people -from Allianz Germany to Allianz Technology, applications and assets included in order to bring all IT-experts to one table. Having the people in one company, the focus is now on speeding up with the harmonization and modernization of the entire (historic) IT landscape of Allianz which means: 100% cloud and SaaS and the decommissioning of outdated system –as agile as possible with an empowered workforce.

Prior to this, Axel spent three years overseas as CEO & President of Allianz Technology of America and some more years as Head of B2B2C at Allianz Technology’s predecessor Allianz Managed Operations & Services SE. Since his start at Allianz in 2002 he has demonstrated not just a specialist knowledge on IT management but also a distinct feeling for the needs of the business. He is a techie with knowledge for economy and vice versa: Axel completed his studies in Business Administration and obtained a doctoral degree in Information Systems from the University of Augsburg. He is fluent in German, English, and French. Axel is married and has two children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family on a tennis court, coding (currently coffee machine) and watching American basketball.