Editor'snote: Updated 2:10 p.m.ET

(Bloomberg) – American International Group Inc., the largestcommercial insurer in the U.S. and Canada, named Michael Lewischief digital officer as the company turns to technology tosimplify operations and gain an edge against smaller rivals.

Lewis, 51, joins from JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he wasmost recently global chief technology officer for digital at theconsumer businesses, the New York-based insurer said Thursday in astatement. He will report to Chief Information Officer PhilipFasano and replaces Rahul Samant who left to become chiefinformation officer of Delta Air Lines Inc.

Improving digital capabilities

Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock is working to betterintegrate operations at a company that was built through decades ofacquisitions and then abruptly shrunk through asset sales that wererequired to help repay a 2008 bailout. The company hired Fasano in2014 from Kaiser Permanente and then added Michael Brady the nextyear to the new post of chief technology officer.

Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock is working to betterintegrate operations at a company that was built through decades ofacquisitions and then abruptly shrunk through asset sales that wererequired to help repay a 2008 bailout. The company hired Fasano in2014 from Kaiser Permanente and then added Michael Brady the nextyear to the new post of chief technology officer.

"Improved digital capabilities will create a global competitiveadvantage," Fasano said in the statement. "Michael's proven recordof success in developing and executing visionary digitaltransformation strategies will provide a strong foundation for theoverall digital landscape we are working toward."

Customers, employees

AIG's business provides access to huge amounts of data on thefrequency of natural disasters, industrial mishaps and autoaccidents. The company is hoping to better use that information toprice policies and decide which risks to pursue. Lewis will alsowork on "enhancing the customer and employee experience," AIGsaid.

At JPMorgan, Lewis worked on applications such as Chase Pay forhandheld devices and helped integrate the bank's cards with AppleInc.'s mobile wallet, according to the statement. He previously hadsenior technology roles at Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Bank ofAmerica Corp. Peter Costanzo, a managing director intechnology at JPMorgan, will take over Lewis's responsibilities,said Trish Wexler, a spokeswoman for the bank.

Related: Tackling automation challenges in the insuranceindustry

Chubb Ltd., the insurer formed by Ace Ltd.'s acquisition ofChubb Corp., announced Thursday that Ed Levin is taking the newlycreated post of digital business officer, reporting to CEO EvanGreenberg and Chief Operating Officer John Keogh. Levin iscurrently division president of accident and health for overseasgeneral insurance.

"Appointing an executive of Ed's caliber to be our first digitalbusiness officer demonstrates how important all things digital areto Chubb," Greenberg said in a statement.

Chubb named Jorge Luis Cazar to replace Levin in theaccident-and-health role later this year, according to a separatestatement. Cazar is currently regional president of Latin America,a role that will be handled by Juan Luis Ortega.