GLOBAL insurance leader Aflac has named Mark McCormack as managing director of its stellar-growth Northern Ireland operation ahead of its move to 20,000 sq ft of office accommodation in Belfast’s City Quays 3, where it will be among the first tenants at the £50 million scheme.
And it has emerged that Aflac NI, a subsidiary of Fortune 500 company Aflac Inc, has reached its target to hire 150 tech staff two years ahead of schedule.
Mark, who joined Aflac NI when it launched in October 2019, replaces Keith Farley, an honorary Belfast Ambassador, who is widely credited with bringing the company to Belfast from a choice of possible global locations.
Set to lead operations for the insurance company’s technology and cyber security innovation centre in Belfast, before joining Aflac Mark was a senior vice president at Citi and a software development leader at BT and BIC Systems.
He said: “Aflac NI’s journey has been a resounding success and I’m delighted to lead a new and exciting phase of expansion with a strong, experienced team that is delivering transformative technology solutions that make a global impact every day.
“As we celebrate three successful years in Northern Ireland, I’m thrilled to confirm our move to a larger high-spec office space at City Quays 3, which is reflective of the exceptional growth and impact Aflac NI has made locally and abroad.”
Keith Farley - who is taking on a new role as Aflac’s chief customer experience officer and will return to the US while continuing to have executive oversight of Aflac NI - said: “Mark is an exceptional leader, a good friend, and the perfect person to lead Aflac NI as we move into our next chapter. He was our first local hire and was instrumental in making our vision a reality.
“On a personal note, my family and I have loved our time in Northern Ireland and will look forward to many return visits after we move this summer.”
Based in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac is a leading global provider of supplemental health insurance, insuring more than 50 million people in the US and Japan. Its Belfast hub has been instrumental in the delivery of global tech solutions to provide seamless support to customers and market growth.
Virgil Miller, deputy president of Aflac US, said: “Our team in Northern Ireland plays a pivotal role in delivering a superior customer experience and supporting our growth, and I’m grateful to Keith, Mark and the wider team for their outstanding contribution.
“Under Mark’s leadership, Aflac remains committed to continuing to invest in Belfast, in our people and our culture.”
