QBE’s Global Market Management team has lost its inaugural chief, with Uwe Schoberth leaving the company to join AIG innovator Blackboard Insurance.

A replacement for Mr Schoberth, based in the US, is yet to be appointed by QBE, which announced the launch of the new team in April.

The group is tasked with strengthening customer focus across key regions and product lines, working globally and at divisional level to drive best practices.

It is also expected to further leverage data and analytics to improve capabilities and streamline customer experience.

Mr Schoberth, who has more than 25 years' experience in the insurance industry, was promoted to the newly created Global Head of Market Management role earlier in the year. He joined QBE in 2014 and was previously Global Head of Major Trading Partner Engagement.

At Blackboard he will also focus on market relationships, enhancing connections with brokers and customers.

AIG said in 2017 that it would operate technology-focused Blackboard as a start-up in an effort to modernise the industry.

The Blackboard website says it serves the commercial insurance market, supporting manufacturing, real estate, wholesale, retail and services industries with annual sales up to $US500 million ($715.5 million).

“After learning about Blackboard’s use of data and technology to serve the middle market in a better way, coupled with the very positive energy exhibited by the team, I knew immediately that this was an opportunity I had to take,” Mr Schoberth said.

“I’m excited to have the chance to apply my experience in the global commercial insurance industry to a company that represents a clean slate in the industry and is fully enabled by technology to meet the needs of our insureds and broker partners.”