Allianz Partners Australia will cut about 45 jobs from its travel division as part of a “strategic roadmap” that was started in February to sharpen the competitive base of the business.

A spokesman for the Allianz-owned business, which also provides assistance products for health, home and roadside, told insuranceNEWS.com.au today that the redundancies were not related to the industry-wide business slump caused by the virus pandemic.

The spokesman also says the business is not able to provide a figure for the number of employees currently working in the travel division.

A statement from Allianz Partners says the job cuts will see the business “adjusting the expense base” and help ensure the delivery of competitive products to customers.

“In recent months, our leadership team has made the decision to change our travel insurance partner portfolio,” CEO Matthew Clayton said.

“We continue to focus on customer benefits including informed choice and value for money. We believe this is in the best interests of the travelling public, whether they purchase products directly from Allianz Partners or from one of our business partners.

“We will continue to monitor the market and our industry and adapt our business to ensure we remain competitive and have a strong and sustainable company for the future.”

As part of the “strategic roadmap”, Allianz is also looking to introduce a simplified travel insurance offering with an improved online customer experience, the statement says.

Chief Sales Officer Leigh Sellers has conducted an extensive review of the business since joining in January, leading to a shift in strategy.

On March 16, Allianz Partners removed from the market a product called My Travel Insurance, and at the end of this month, it has a mutual agreement to terminate its relationship with Aussie Travel Cover.

“This will enable our team to sharpen its focus on delivering value to our customers in line with our core value proposition and strategic direction,” Mr Sellers said.