Page 82 - BIPAR Annual Report 2020_EN

Agents’ Committee
A word from the Chairman of the Agents’
Committee, Jean-François Mossino
The global pandemic has put Europe to the test. While we hope to have no health consequences, we still need to do
a lot to address the economic and social consequences in the context of a severe financial crisis.
As in any crisis situation, however, opportunities arise and experience leads to paradigm shifts, as new values
emerge or others are reassessed.
How did insurance agents contribute in this context?
As important assets of the mandating companies, insurance agents have indirectly participated in the economic
interventions carried out by insurance companies in favour of the urgent health and economic state in the different
countries. Despite the lockdown, they have continued to guarantee their irreplaceable services for local advice
and assistance on a daily basis, while responding to the recommendations and rules imposed by the coronavirus
pandemic, in order to protect the health of their customers and employees. Agents have demonstrated their ability
to use the most modern remote communication systems, even in countries where it has been decided that agencies
must remain open to the public.
This provided companies with further confirmation of strong, reliable and systemic support.
Clients showed their appreciation, indicating that they preferred that the remote digital relationship be integrated
by the added value of a qualified professional, with a human touch, in assessing needs and identifying the most
personalised solutions, especially in difficult times.
In a Europe which aims to protect consumers in the context of the digital evolution of insurance distribution and to
bring social and economic value to the Member States, it is important that we all build on these signals. Qualified
professional intermediation is a value to be preserved and guaranteed, particularly in the distribution of insurance
and in the era of digital evolution.
The Agents’ Committee, within the more general framework of BIPAR, will continue to engage in this direction in a
timely, proactive and constructive manner.
The good relations, as well as the principles and objectives shared by the Agents’ Committee with BIPAR as a whole,
have enabled us to face - all together - these difficult moments with confidence. Today, even more than in the past,
solidarity between professional intermediaries - and the values we share - will serve as a lever in a changing society
and market. As Chairman of the Agents’ Committee, I refer to the foreword of the BIPAR Chairman and the BIPAR
EU Committee Chairman, and I share the logic of their remarks.
Together, we share a common interest in safeguarding the value of the professional entrepreneur in the insurance
industry, with a focus on client and consumer protection.
Due to the health crisis caused by the coronavirus, it was not possible for us to meet on the occasion of the BIPAR
2020 annual meetings. We will, however, continue our mission, with the hope that we will soon be able to meet
again under normal conditions.
I wish you good health, courage and confidence in the future.
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Activities of the Agents’
Committee
Reinforced cooperation of agents at European level
In addition to the permanent information exchange between its members on various issues, the BIPAR Agents’ Committee
decided a few years ago to reinforce agents’ cooperation and to facilitate meetings of the national organisations of
agents’ networks of various countries and of the same company in order to study the policies of the latter with regard
to their agents in different European markets. Today, an increasing number of decisions are taken at international level
and it is important to have a global vision of a company’s strategies to avoid possible negative effects and to benefit
from favourable experiences of agents’ colleagues in other markets.
• European Association of AXA agents
The European Association of national organisations of AXA agents was set up on 29 June 2006 in Brussels under the aegis of
the BIPAR Agents’ Committee. Its members are the French (Réussir), German (USV), Italian (Unione Agenti AXA), Spanish (Club
Diálogo de agentes generales AXA) Swiss (COMON) and Luxembourg (Interaxa) organisations of AXA agents. Belgium has an
observer status.
The association held two regular meetings during 2019 (in Barcelona in April and in Naples in December). The first meeting
of 2020, which was scheduled to take place in Winterthur in May, was replaced by a video-meeting due to the Covid-19 crisis.
A second meeting is scheduled in December in Brussels. The Association has successfully continued its work exchanging
information and good practices.
The European Directory for AXA insurance agents (made fully operational in November 2010) further developed. It aims
at facilitating cross-border collaboration between AXA insurance agents who are members of one of the members of the
European Association. 359 agents have registered. The Directory exists in French, German, Spanish and Italian.
The current President of the European Association is Pascal Chapelon from the French Association of AXA agents. The French
presidential programme aims at strengthening the structures of the Association to pass on agents’ messages with the Group.
• European Association of Allianz agents
The European Association of national organisations of Allianz agents was created in April 2008 under the aegis of the BIPAR
Agents’ Committee. Its members are the French (MAG3***), German (IG), Italian (Associazione Agenti Allianz) and Austrian
(Allianz Agenturverbund Österreich) organisations of Allianz agents.
In October 2019, the Association met in Milan. The March 2020 meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Paris, has been
postponed to November 2020, due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The current President of the European Association is Herbert Pilzweger from the German Association of Allianz agents.
• European Coordination Group of Generali agents
On 21 May 2015, under the aegis of the BIPAR Agents’ Committee, the associations of agents of the Generali Group of Italy,
France and Germany (GA-GI, Triangl and IVHV) set up the “European Coordination Group of Generali agents”. The objective
of this Group is to compare, promote, analyse and study the role of agents within the Generali Group and consequently, to
promote and examine the evolution of the profession.
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