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The rapid growth exceeds top executives’ expectation. The company’s local workforce has grown to 400 workers and another 150 are planned to be added by year’s end.
By CHUCK CRUMBO
ccrumbo@scbiznews.com
Published Aug. 22, 2011
Less than two years after acquiring Columbia-based Continental American Insurance Co., Aflac has more than doubled its Midlands work force and plans to add another 150 jobs by the end of the year.
“This is a really exciting time for us,” said Chris Goodall, CEO of Aflac Group Insurance – the new name for Continental after Aflac acquired it October 2009.
Aflac’s announcement further bolsters the reputation of the Midlands’ insurance cluster, which employs up to 8,000 people at more than 40 firms, and pumps an estimated $1 billion a year into the local economy.
In July, one of the world’s largest insurance technology consulting and services firms, Accenture, acquired Duck Creek Technologies, which has its executive, sales, and customer service offices in Columbia.
When bought by Aflac, Continental had about 160 employees at its 50,000-square-foot headquarters at 2801 Devine St., Goodall said.
Rebranded as Aflac Group, the company’s work force has grown to 400 workers – 300 full-time, and 100 temporary. The company also has expanded its footprint, moving into 41,000 square feet of office space at 400 Laurel St.
The growing hasn’t stopped. Aflac Group will be filling another 150 jobs – approximately 100 full-time and 50 temporary, Goodall said. And, it will be adding another 15,000 square feet of office space at 400 Laurel, Goodall said.
That means by Dec. 31 the number of Aflac Group employees will have more than doubled to 550 since the acquisition was announced in October 2009. The work force will consist of approximately 400 full-time and 150 temporary employees, Goodall said.
Presently, about 100 people, mostly executive staff, work at the Devine Street offices, and the rest at 400 Laurel, Goodall said.
Such rapid expansion has fueled speculation Aflac might be transferring to Columbia some departments from the company’s headquarters in Columbus, Ga.
More people might be added to the Columbia operation, but there are no plans to move whole departments here, said Paul Amos II, Aflac president and CEO.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to grow Aflac Group operations,” Amos said. “The demand for products coming out of Columbia has been beyond our wildest dreams.”
Read more about this in the Aug. 22 issue of the Columbia Regional Business Report.
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