Insurance giant adding jobs as part of Charlotte expansion

Charlotte Observer (NC)

Nov. 09--The Aflac-owned firm Empowered has doubled the size of its Charlotte offices and will add 30 new jobs before the end of the year.

Empowered Benefits, started in 2000 and acquired by the Georgia insurer Aflac in 2015, is a cloud-based benefits administration and enrollment software company. The firm spent $3 million to expand its "digital innovation center" at 525 N. Tryon St. from 14,000 square feet to 30,500 square feet, Aflac said in a statement Thursday, when the renovation was unveiled.

Additionally, Empowered Benefits has been rebranded as "Empowered," which is designed "to highlight the wide range of services that the company provides for clients in an increasingly digital environment geared for speed," Aflac said.

There are about 120 people at Empowered's Charlotte office, including some contractors, an Aflac spokesman said.

Over the last two years, Empowered has added about 65 jobs in Charlotte, the Charlotte Chamber said in a statement.

"Empowered and Aflac's commitment to growth in Charlotte is significant in that it not only further enhances our strength within the health care sector but also offers tremendous opportunities to assist like-minded entrepreneurial businesses," said Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber CEO and president.

This year, Aflac also announced a $100 million venture capital fund, Aflac Corporate Ventures, that is headquartered in Charlotte and "a core part of Empowered's growth strategy."