Liberty Mutual’s Safeco Insurance appointed a new president,an insider who has focused on analytics and other innovations.

Tyler Asher takes over Safeco after nearly 18 years with the insurer in roles covering finance, accounting, management reporting and analysis, according to the company’s announcement. Most recently, he was Safeco’s vice president, Distribution Insights, where he led strategy, planning and innovation, and also managed operational and advanced analytics.

Asher’s team recently launched Safeco’s “Insurance Advisor” skill for Amazon Alexa, an advance that Safeco asserts makes it the first insurance carrier to enable consumers to navigate the insurance process through voice commands.

It is this experience with, and awareness of, changing markets that makes Asher the right person to become Safeco’s next president, said Jim MacPhee, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Liberty Mutual U.S. Consumer Markets,

“The marketplace for personal insurance is rapidly changing, and [Asher’s] experience with agents, his knowledge of the industry and commitment to innovation will help us continue to grow our already strong position in the independent agency channel,” MacPhee said in prepared remarks.

Asher is replacing Matthew Nickerson, who was promoted from his job as Safeco president to become executive vice president and chief operating officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Global Consumer Markets East Region.

Safeco sells personal automobile, homeowners and specialty insurance products through a network of more than 10,000 independent insurance agencies across the United States.

Source: Liberty Mutual/Safeco