CII qualifications should be made mandatory in order to improve the industry's appeal to graduates, according to Allianz Cornhill's Paul Sowden.
Speaking in the wake of the CII's launch of its Talent Quest initiative, Sowden, who is three years into his career at Allianz, said the lack of mandatory qualifications is a "significant hurdle" to attracting talent to the industry.
Sowden added that insurance has got it about right in terms of challenge and salary levels but needs to improve perceptions among graduates.
Judith Bufton, Allianz's head of learning and development, agreed: "We have to get away from this image of grey men in grey suits".
She was confident that the CII's latest initiative, launched with great fanfare at today's conference in Glasgow, would go a great way towards improving the industry's reputation.
