Zurich LiveWell to acquire digital health and wellbeing service providers as it strengthens its capabilities

• Acquisition adds digital platform and expertise of trusted business partner in health and wellbeing industry
• Zurich’s health and wellbeing start-up now operates under the name Zurich LiveWell
• Zurich LiveWell announces senior leadership appointments

Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) has agreed to acquire from the founders the digital health and wellbeing service providers HealthLogix, based in Australia, and HealthInsite, based in South Africa, to further expand its Zurich LiveWell health and wellbeing business.

The companies, jointly known as HLX, offer customers a range of mobile applications and web-based health and wellbeing solutions for corporate employees and retail customers. These solutions promote improved engagement and productivity through the incorporation of health risk assessments, physical activity and biometric tracking, behavioral change challenges that reduce lifestyle risk, sophisticated rewards system and personalized content around physical, mental, financial and social health.

Zurich has worked closely with HLX since 2018, providing its corporate and retail customers with innovative and customized wellbeing solutions in Australia, Brazil and most recently in Spain. The transaction, which is subject to foreign investment approval in Australia, will strengthen Zurich LiveWell’s technology, data analytics and multimedia content delivery capabilities. The companies will continue serving their existing customers in countries around the world.

“The perfect match”

Helene Westerlind, CEO of Zurich LiveWell, said: “The acquisitions will boost Zurich’s capabilities to deploy innovative health and wellbeing offerings to customers across markets globally with a scalable and modular proposition, aligning with the accelerating global adoption of health technology. We share a strong passion and the objective of truly empowering people to improve their health and wellbeing by providing them with a personalized and unique proposition. This is a perfect match for Zurich LiveWell, and we look forward to our journey together.”

Zurich LiveWell was created earlier this year under the working name of WellCare to bring together the Group’s existing health and wellbeing initiatives and expand the services into new markets. The new name is the brand under which it is already operating in Australia and Spain and will now be used globally. Zurich LiveWell will be part of Zurich’s new Global Business Platforms unit, which focuses on digital services and solutions.

Senior LiveWell appointments

Dr. Denis Cronson, Co-Founder and current CEO of HLX, will take on the role of Chief Sales and Distribution Officer for Zurich LiveWell. He brings to the role a deep understanding and knowledge of health and wellbeing services together with a passion for guiding and inspiring people to live a healthier and longer life. Dr. Cronson will be responsible for building and delivering the go-to-market strategy as well as developing and managing the global LiveWell sales and distribution models in the corporate and retail business. He holds degrees in medicine (MBBCh) and business administration (MBA) from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

In addition, Zurich has announced further senior management appointments within Zurich LiveWell, reporting to Ms. Westerlind, as the business invests in capabilities and skills needed to drive growth across markets.

Sally Phillips has been appointed Chief Product and Proposition Officer. She will join Zurich in November from Australian life insurer TAL, where she was most recently General Manager, Health Services. Ms. Phillips, who will be based in Sydney, will be responsible for advancing the overall proposition portfolio strategy, ensuring the delivery of innovative products and services. Ms. Phillips holds degrees in medicine (MBBCh) and science (BSC (Hons)) from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Michael Bischof has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. He will focus on driving and executing the operations and service delivery strategy to scale the business, while maintaining a strong customer focus. Most of his career has been in corporate transformation and digital innovation within insurance and banking. Mr. Bischof will join the company in December and will be based in Zurich. Mr. Bischof holds master’s degrees in Philosophy from the London School of Economics & Political Science, and in Political Science from the University of Geneva.