A US-based insurance firm is set to open a technology innovation centre in Belfast, creating 150 jobs.
Aflac Incorporated, which has bases in the USA and Japan, is setting up a Global IT and Cybersecurity Innovation Centre in the city as part of a multi-million pound investment.
The Georgia-headquartered company is listed at No 143 on the Fortune 500.
The new centre will be in addition to the existing teams in the USA and Japan and will support customers and market growth in both of these current Aflac markets.
Aflac is the leading supplemental insurance provider in the life and health category in the United States and Japan, providing financial protection to more than 50 million people worldwide.
Invest Northern Ireland has offered just over £1 million to help secure the project and create high-value jobs for Northern Ireland, establishing itself as a fintech hub.
Alastair Hamilton, CEO, Invest NI said “Aflac operates in the two largest insurance markets in the world.
“The increased safety of its customers is central to its business, and this new centre will ensure Aflac remains at the cutting edge of technology with access to global excellence in cybersecurity,” he said.
He said with a constant drive to innovate and exploit new emerging technologies, this will be an exciting addition to the cybersecurity and ICT sector.
Aflac will recruit for the new roles over the next five years, offering opportunities in IT and cybersecurity with an average salary of around £45,000. When fully operational, the jobs will contribute nearly £7 million in wages to the Northern Ireland economy.
Virgil Miller, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Aflac USA, and president of Aflac Group Insurance, added: “What is particularly attractive about Northern Ireland is the existing expertise in areas such as mobile and cloud development and intelligent surveillance technology. Investing in advanced technologies is at the heart of our strategy to deliver an exceptional service experience to our customers, and in Northern Ireland, we know that we can drive world-class innovation for our company. We are also pleased that the new centre will provide an additional time zone, enabling expanded threat monitoring and response.”
He said the company had conducted extensive research in Europe to identify a location that not only has the expertise in IT development and cybersecurity to support the business strategy, but also complements the company culture.
Keith Farley, vice president of Aflac Northern Ireland, said the company is looking for talent to help build a presence in Belfast.
Aflac currently employs around 4,700 employees in the U.S. and 11,000 globally. In 2018, Fortune magazine recognised Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 20th consecutive year.
