Tata Consultancy Services has signed a multiyear transformation and managed services agreement with Canada Life covering the insurer's European businesses.
Under the deal, TCS will modernise and manage Canada Life's data centres, core infrastructure, end-user computing and software lifecycle management. The work will use artificial intelligence as part of a broader overhaul of IT infrastructure services.
Canada Life is a major life and pensions insurer with operations across Europe, giving TCS responsibility for a significant part of the group's underlying technology estate. The programme is intended to improve operational resilience, increase automation and enhance the experience for users of those systems.
Described as a multimillion-euro deal, the agreement forms part of Canada Life's wider technology modernisation programme. TCS said the partnership would combine its technical capabilities with the experience of Canada Life's internal teams.
European scope
The programme spans Canada Life's European businesses and is designed to refresh the technology foundations that support the insurer's operations. In practice, this means changes to infrastructure services that sit behind business processes and customer-facing activity.
Canada Life said the work would help it scale technology services more effectively as business needs change. It added that the programme would support a longer-term shift in how its IT environment is run and maintained.
For TCS, the deal expands its financial services and insurance work in the UK and Europe. It said it has worked with insurers, life companies and pensions providers across the region on digital transformation projects.
Hiring plans
As part of the agreement, TCS said it would expand its infrastructure services talent base in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Germany. It also plans to invest in learning, certification and career development.
The hiring plans indicate the programme will require both delivery capacity and local expertise across the markets covered by the contract. They also point to a broader services footprint around Canada Life's European operations, rather than a narrowly defined outsourcing arrangement.
Caroline Dibbs, Chief Information & Transformation Officer, Europe, outlined the insurer's view of the agreement.
"Working with TCS marks the next stage of our journey to modernise the technology foundations that underpin our business, and it was important to choose a partner that understands our long-term vision and shares our commitment to people and innovation. TCS brings deep technical expertise, strong transformation capabilities and a collaborative approach that aligns well with our strategy. Together, we will deliver lasting improvements to the technology services and capabilities that support our business and the people who depend on it," said Dibbs.
TCS positioned the deal as part of its push in AI-led transformation work for large enterprises in regulated sectors. Insurance groups have been reviewing legacy systems, operating models and technology costs as they seek to update core platforms while maintaining service continuity and meeting compliance demands.
In that context, managed services agreements that combine infrastructure modernisation with automation and operational support have become a common route for large financial institutions seeking to reduce complexity in longstanding IT estates. These projects often extend across data centre operations, workplace technology and software management, all of which are included in this contract.
Vinay Singhvi, Head, UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services, said: "We are delighted to be selected as the strategic partner for Canada Life's technology modernisation journey across the UK and Europe. This co-operation is a testament to our leadership in AI-led transformation, marking a significant step on our journey to becoming the world's largest AI-led technology services company. By leveraging our deep domain expertise, we will help Canada Life achieve greater operational efficiency, enhance resilience, and create a more agile, responsive IT ecosystem to support their long-term growth."