The independence of Generali as a primary objective, as well as the centrality of the role of agents for the company. This is the message sent by the group CEO of Generali, Philippe Donnet, to the European Coordination of Lions agents, in a meeting that took place yesterday in Milan, as reported by the president of the Generali Agents Group Italy (Ga-Gi), Vincenzo Cirasola. "Donnet confirmed that independence remains the primary objective: to remain independent as it has always been", Cirasola told Radiocor Plus, at the end of the meeting with the Group CEO and with the Country Manager of Generali Italia Marco Sesana. The top management of the company also underlined that the agent will continue to play a leading role also in the digital future of insurance.
The Milan day of the European Coordination Group of Generali agents, which includes Italy, France and Germany, was first set at the historic headquarters in Piazza Cordusio and then the futuristic Hadid Tower of Citylife. “The visit to the two headquarters of Generali Italia testifies that the future benefits from the experience of the past and that tradition enriches innovation”, underlines Cirasola. Many topics were on the agenda during the meetings, including regulatory changes and the increasingly accentuated digitization of the insurance sector, as well as the importance also for agents in other European countries of being able to use the Lion brand exclusively winged, explained Cirasola.
“Donnet confirmed that agents are fundamental in Europe, he strongly believes in their centrality,” Cirasola reported. In particular, in France, where agents do not have a high share of the market as in Italy, "there is room for their contribution to grow". The French representatives of the Coordination, among other things, have continued the request to have the new brand of the red winged lion exclusively – similarly to what happens in Italy – with respect to the other channels used by the company. In Germany a very important restructuring is underway aimed at making the Generali brand prevail in distribution, the president of Ga-Gi then recalled. Furthermore, the digital future does not worry the agents of Generali Italia: the new agreement stipulated at the end of October provides that the policies made through a digital channel are assigned to an agent.
“It is a fundamental agreement that has created the foundations for facing the digital age. Therefore, innovation doesn't scare us, because simplifying doesn't mean disintermediating. The new agreement gives us protection", underlines Cirasola, noting that "elsewhere it is not like this". Even the French agents have asked for a similar agreement which among other things also provides for full commissions for digital customers. The European Coordination, created in 2015, is made up of the three main Agent Groups of Generali and has the objective of comparing, analyzing and studying the role of the agent in the European context and the evolution of the profession. The Milan leg comes after the two previous meetings in Munich and Paris. The hope and the next objective of the Coordination – explains Cirasola – is that an association of Generali agents be formed also in Spain, which can then be included in the European grouping.
