Discovery announces massive shake-up for Vitality

The Discovery Group is merging its Vitality UK (VUK) and Vitality Global (VG) into one business.

The group previously comprised three business composites: Discovery South Africa, VUK and VG. However, it will now create one global composite, Vitality, through the merger of VUK and VG.

In addition to his current role as CEO of VUK, Neville Koopowitz has become Vitality’s CEO.

Barry Swartzberg, who has served as the CEO of VG, will work directly with the Group CEO and founder, Adrian Gore, to drive the group’s growth.

“Discovery has built two, largely independent, international businesses of scale and significance: one in the UK through VUK and the other, in the rest of the world through VG,” said the group.

“Both businesses have grown organically over many years at a different pace and with different progressions, given the prevailing considerations for each. Over the past two years, each has also intensified focus on core initiatives while closing those with marginal benefits, aligning their strategies.”

“Today, the scale of the underlying businesses, the evolving data and its applicability, the focus on a unified product strategy, and the opportunity for uniform and consistent data, IP and technology, has created the opportunity for a single global composite of scale, with significant organic growth potential.”

The group said that the performance of the emerging Vitality Shared-value Insurance Model has been consistent for all businesses within VUK and VG, which it said demonstrated high levels of customer engagement and the strong causal effect of the engagement on mortality and morbidity.

It added that a central structure will allow it to more rapidly and effectively deploy and advance the group’s products in the global health and life insurance markets.

“Currently, the emerging Vitality 3.0 with hyper-personalised pathways across all markets will significantly enhance the group’s competitive advantage, benefiting the group’s global customers and partners,” said the group.

Changes at Vitality South Africa

On top of the business changes hitting the group, Discovery Vitality recently announced changes to its offerings in South Africa,

As per the changes on 1 September 2024, Discovery Vitality is no longer partnering with Pick n Pay for its HealthyFood benefit.

Customers ill instead get the HealthyFood benefit shopping from Checkers and Checkers Sixty60.

Woolworths and Woolies Dash, however, will remain partners in the program.

“The new HealthyFood benefit will enable you to get rewarded at Checkers and Woolworths for in-store purchases, Checkers Sixty60 and Woolworths online, and the Woolies app and Woolies Dash for online shopping,” said Discovery.

“These HealthyFood rewards will be paid in Discovery Miles, our rewards currency that is more valuable than cash. Watch out for communication in September with more information. You don’t need to do anything right now.”

“You’ll continue to earn rewards on items you purchase at Pick n Pay and Pick n Pay ASAP until 31 August 2024—those rewards will be paid to you in September.”

Customers will also be allowed to spend their Discovery Miles at Pick n Pay by choosing them as a reward option in the Vitality Mall.

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