Why Ageas can call itself the Personal Lines Insurer of the Year

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Insurance chief executive François-Xavier Boisseau on what it meant to win one of the industry’s most coveted awards

Ahead of the deadline for entries to the 2014 Insurance Times Awards, we speak to past winners about their award, their top tips for success and challenges and changes in the industry.

Here we speak to Ageas Insurance chief executive François-Xavier Boisseau about winning the Personal Lines Insurer of the Year Award.

IT: What did it mean to you to be named the Insurance Times 2013 Personal Lines Insurer of the Year?

FB: 2013 was an exciting year for Ageas. We were going through significant change yet were determined that our programme to successfully integrate two insurance operations shouldn’t impact on the service we offered brokers or customers. Winning the Personal Lines Insurer of the Year Award was recognition of our success in this area.

Click here to see the video of Ageas chief executive Andy Watson accepting the award.

IT: Since you won the award, what has been the biggest change to the insurance industry?

FB: Not so much a change but certainly an intensification of attention on the way the insurance industry does business from regulators, media, politicians and competition authorities. That was why it was so key the industry got it right in terms of dealing with customers who experienced the recent storms and floods.

IT: What is the biggest issue facing the industry and Ageas in the next 12 months?

FB: At Ageas Insurance the next 12 months will see us continuing our integration programme while ensuring we retain our focus on our brokers, trading partners and customers. The industry as a whole must meet the rising reputation challenge presented by the increased focus on what we do.

IT: Where does the IT Awards trophy live?

FB: Our trophy sits proudly in a purpose-built display cabinet in our head office in Eastleigh.

IT: What’s your top tip for people entering this year’s awards?

FB: To choose a great story and back it up with compelling evidence.