Allianz at FERMA, the European Risk Management Forum

Risk trends from cyber to climate change, abundant networking opportunities and last but not least an eagle flight experience and a ABB Formula E show car: For Allianz, the FERMA Forum 2019 provided an  extraordinary platform, enabling risk insights, business networking and an emotional brand experience. Every two years FERMA, the pan-European risk management organization representing 22 national organizations such as GVNW or AIRMIC, hosts a large industry conference – this time in Berlin celebrating 30 years of German reunification. 1,680 risk management and insurance professionals from all across Europe have been meeting for three days discussing emerging exposures and risk management best practices in panel sessions and workshops. 

This year’s FERMA Forum was indeed a special one for Allianz. “Berlin is the city where Allianz was established in 1890 and evolved in the past 130 years as one the leading global insurers. We are also a strategic partner of FERMA which is a fantastic pan-European platform and community to reach an unparalleled number of more than 4,200 risk managers and insurance experts across all industries. It was obvious that we wanted to be highly engaged supporting this event”, explains Michael Maicher, Global Head of Broker Management.

The FERMA Forum 2019 opened on Sunday evening with strong Allianz presence. AGCS Board Member Hartmut Mai delivered the key note speech at the FERMA Welcome party at the Berlin Office of Deutsche Telekom. Considering how to the best adopt new technologies, he called for collaboration, partnership and an agile mind-set to solve today’s challenges. Just two hours later Hartmut welcomed about 400 Allianz business partners to an exclusive event at the Allianz Berlin Office at Pariser Platz. “I really enjoyed being here, it was a great atmosphere and the roof top desert overlooking the Brandenburger Tor and the Berlin night skyline was a memorable moment”, said an AGCS customer.

With wooden panels, a creative mind-mapping wall and a real barista coffee experience, the Allianz booth number 14 at the FERMA exhibition zone signaled a warm welcome to business partners. Close to 50 market-facing staff and underwriting experts met with clients, among them Board Members Sinéad Browne and Hartmut Mai as well as the Central & Eastern Europe and Mediterranean regional leaders Patrick Thiels, Corinne Cipière, Hans-Joerg Mauthe, Christoph Mueller, Peter Hecht-Hansen and Stefanie Thiem. In the best ‘One Allianz’ spirit experts from Euler Hermes, Allianz Global Benefits and Allianz Partners were present at the conference as well.

However, Allianz at FERMA boosted much more than great business networking and a new service offering  which was launched at the conference. “With many futuristic technology attractions we tried to win the hearts and minds of our customers and invited them to explore the future with us”, explains Tina Rocholl, who managed the event from an AGCS perspective. Many participants tried to fly like an eagle with Birdly, a simulator offering a fully-body virtual reality flight experience. Others took selfies in front of the breathtaking ABB Formula E show car or checked out the history and future of insurance in the immersive Allianz tunnel featuring a 3D video experience. It was then a fitting reward when the majority of corporate risk managers nominated the Allianz booth the best stand at FERMA Forum 2019. They appreciated “very welcoming nice staff” and a “great technology experience”.

Not to forget the risks trends, though. Improving cyber resilience was a big theme: Speakers highlighted activities of national regulatory agencies and called for harmonized cyber security standards across Europe. Other sessions focused on how to best manage cyber exposures for the weakest link of a corporate network – the supply chain – or how to leverage Artificial Intelligence in risk management. Risk management professionals also discussed their role in preparing businesses for a low-carbon, resource-friendly economy. Chris Bonnet, Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Business Services, was a panelist at a FERMA masterclass discussing how to embed environmental, social and governance issues into Enterprise Risk Management frameworks. 

“We had many good and open conversations with clients and they really appreciated our transparent approach in the current market environment”, said Hans-Joerg Mauthe, Regional CEO for CEE. Patrick Thiels, Regional CEO for Mediterranean, couldn’t agree more: “Our special Mediterranean region lunch attracted more risk managers than we could actually host and we’ve seen strong interest for unbundled services from clients and national brokers. I have been at many FERMA events during my career but this one was truly entering a new dimension in many respects.”

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) is a leading global corporate insurance carrier and a key business unit of Allianz Group. We provide risk consultancy, Property-Casualty insurance solutions and alternative risk transfer for a wide spectrum of commercial, corporate and specialty risks across 12 dedicated lines of business.

Our customers are as diverse as business can be, ranging from Fortune Global 500 companies to small businesses, and private individuals. Among them are not only the world’s largest consumer brands, tech companies and the global aviation and shipping industry, but also wineries, satellite operators or Hollywood film productions. They all look to AGCS for smart answers to their largest and most complex risks in a dynamic, multinational business environment and trust us to deliver an outstanding claims experience.

Worldwide, AGCS operates with its own teams in 33 countries and through the Allianz Group network and partners in over 200 countries and territories, employing over 4,400 people. As one of the largest Property-Casualty units of Allianz Group, we are backed by strong and stable financial ratings. In 2018, AGCS generated a total of €8.2 billion gross premium globally.

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