MINNEAPOLIS—Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has named Sara Thurin Rollin as director of external communications, responsible for building Allianz Life's reputation as a leader in the financial services industry and the communities where it does business.

Rollin comes to Allianz Life from Twin Cities Communications, a communications consultancy that provided strategic direction for internal and external messaging. Prior to that, she was with Lifetouch, as corporate director of public relations and events. Rollin also served as director of media relations and policy for Cargill.

Before her career in corporate communications, Rollin spent more than 10 years as a daily business news reporter with the Bureau of National Affairs in Washington, DC, covering domestic and international regulatory developments.