On 29 May, the General Assembly of Insurance Europe was held in Helsinki. A new president of the European insurance federation was elected, with the candidacy of Frédéric de Courtois, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AXA, unanimously approved by the members.
After his election, during his speech at the 14th International Conference of Insurance Europe, Mr de Courtois said:
“My main priority will be to contribute to building a better and more competitive Europe. The insurance industry is part of the solution and is eager to work constructively and engage with all stakeholders to develop and co-build the right solutions.
We stand at a unique geopolitical, environmental, technological, and demographic crossroads: in 2024, half of the world’s population will be voting, including in the upcoming European elections, which will have significant implications for our future. The rise of AI is transforming entire sectors of our economy, including insurance. The increasingly visible ageing of the population offers opportunities for innovation and for improving the financing of healthcare and pensions. And finally, climate change requires a new approach to how related risks can be collectively managed with different stakeholders, including public authorities.
In this context, how can insurance contribute to addressing the current challenges faced by citizens and societies? I believe we can demonstrate our potential to:
Build solutions for prevention.
Invest in line with European priorities, taking into account the interests of our clients, in key areas that are transforming society: climate transition and resilience, AI and digital technologies.
Help close the protection gap by taking on more insurance risks where necessary and developing sustainable public-private partnerships.
Strengthen dialogue with consumers to find the best solutions.
Contribute to the climate agenda, both as insurers and as institutional investors.
Be an example in transparency and data protection.
Only under these conditions can we move forward together and improve our collective preparedness for future risks and threats. I believe in the ability of the insurance industry to reinvent itself and to rise to meet the needs of our economies and societies.“
Frédéric de Courtois has worked in the insurance industry for more than 30 years. He has been Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AXA since 2021 and is a member of the Group Management Committee.
