Norwich makes new appointment to rescue PlanIt
NorwichUnionhas appointed a new head of development in a bid to get its troubled financial software, PlanIt, back on track.
The software was launched in May 2001 to replace the DOS-based FPI software. It was quickly withdrawn after a number of problems developed with the software.
The management of the project was removed from Navigator and passed to Allan Griffiths, who was then head of distribution. Griffiths has subsequently become chief executive of Norwich, however, PlanIt has still not re-appeared on the market.
The group has now appointed Dr Sharam Hekmat to the task. Hekmat has worked with Norwich for the past three years on a number of software development roles within the company and has experience as an international software design consultant.
Griffiths says he has “every confidence” in Hekmat to deliver the PlanIt software.
“Hekmat is a world-class software designer with a proven track record, having successfully designed, developed and implemented PlanIt Singapore for the Aviva Group and n-link for Norwich Union,” he says.
Navigatordistribution head Paul Northey will support Hekmat in the rollout phase, although Norwich has not given a date for the rollout.
Griffiths has said in the past that no date would be announced until the software was working 100 per cent.
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