How PCG Created an Agile Operating Framework for a Global Investment Company in Record Time

01/11/2025

Our global investment client acquired a national insurance company with the aspiration of becoming a top 5 Annuity carrier in the US. The new leadership structure shifted the company’s operating model to capitalize on near-term market opportunities. This transformation involved paving the way for specialization, leveraging top-notch operations and technology capabilities to enhance the company’s leadership position in the US annuity, life, P&C, and PRT insurance marketplace.

To meet their aggressive goals, the company decided to pilot an Agile way of working starting with a new platform reintroduction for annuity. PCG was brought in to help develop and execute the strategy for the Annuity MVP pilot and “meet them where they are” with a tailored Agile framework to deliver against their specific needs. Following the successful pilot, our strategic partnership played a pivotal role in rapidly scaling business agility across the organization, with a keen focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) and tangible results.

The Challenge

The client needed a drastic and immediate shift in their operating model to shore-up gaps and implement the annuity-specific specializations required to meet their goals. This included:

  • Standing-up an Agile cross-functional delivery approach.
  • Developing best-in-class operating platforms.
  • Establishing a strong central transformation team.

The client sought external assistance and expertise to make all of this happen within what they hoped would be weeks.

The Playbook

PCG supported their Transformation Office with interim Agile deployment leadership, on-the-job training, and hands-on coaching from experienced practitioners to build a proven, right-sized, and scalable operating model that enabled their unique needs and growth ambitions.

This included:

  • Building out the agile program governance structure.
  • Establishing and training an executive transformation steering team.
  • Standing up 4 cross-functional agile pilot teams, including organization, training, and coaching.
  • Enabling the delivery of the MVP product experience within a 4-month timeframe.

Results

The four team pilot led to a company-wide agile transformation. They are now on pace to reach $7.5B in new annuity business by the end of the year. The current agile footprint at one year consists of:

  • 4 Agile Release Trains (ARTs) aligned by business unit with 2+ additional to stand-up.
  • 16 Agile Product Teams with anticipated growth to 25+.
  • 200+ agile trained team members.
  • 20+ ART leaders receiving SAFE certification training.

PCG was able to act fast and help our client align their operations within a short period. We provided them with the right resources and guidance to make a strong play towards serious company growth.

If your company is looking to see rapid changes in a short time, reach out to PCG. We have the tactics and programs to transform companies.