03/11/2016
Interview With Our Astreos Partner in Russia
October 31, 2016
Interis
Oleg_Stasevich
Natalyia_eremeevaNB
PeterDavies_frank
From left to right: Oleg Stasevich (TCI director), Natlyia Eremeyeva (General Manager), and Peter Davies Frank (Partner).
Interis is the Astreos patner in Russia. For Astreos, Peter Davies Frank and Oleg Stasevich have kindly accepted to tell us more about Interis and themselves.
Peter, could you introduce Interis to our readers?
PDF: Although Interis began with Marine and Reinsurance broking activities, today the essential activity is Corporate insurance for medium to large size Russian or foreign-owned firms.
From our dedicated team and correspondents worldwide we can draw upon their knowledge and support to offer advice and assistance to help our clients solve their insurance issues.
We also do consultancy work for our policy holders, foreign brokers and insurance companies who are interested in the Russian insurance market and in a similar fashion for the Russian commercial companies seeking development in major world markets.
Last but not least, we are a Russian domestic insurance broker for all classes of business.
Peter, could you tell us about the early days of Interis in Russia?
PDF: Concerning the history, it was born from an idea Natalia and I, had back in 2005 and the company was registered in March 2006. In the early days we had a portfolio of Marine and Reinsurance mainly from Europe and South east Asia. At that time, there were three of us: myself, Natalia and an assistant, together in a small office which we shared with a motor insurance agent.
What have you achieved?
PDF: Today, we are a total number of 16 persons split between St Petersburg (11 people) and Moscow (5 persons). Little by little, we succeeded in securing local domestic russian risks in a market quite hostile to brokers. Time went by and the reputation of our quality service and placements grew. We began Volontary Medical Insurance and Personal Accident in 2008 and fastracking forward to 2013 we were very happy and proud to have been approached to become future members of what was not yet called Astreos. We trust the other members are pleased to work through us for Russia. In order to broaden our corporate offer, we created a dedicated TCI unit in 2016 headed by Oleg Stasevitch.
Oleg, could you tell our readers why you joined Interis?
OS: I started working with Interis a few years ago, when I worked at Euler Hermes. At that time, the professionalism of the employees of the company and interest in trade credit insurance drew my attention. Additionally, the personal qualities of the company's owners and a clear vision of the future development is completely in line with my expectations and plans.
What are the challenges that you see in the existing market?
OS: The Russian market of trade credit insurance is currently at the starting point of the development. We have to overcome not only the lack of knowledge about the product, but also the distrust to insurance companies and to the brokers. Also, due to the difficult economic situation in Russia, the insurers severely restricted the access to the market for a large number of companies in various sectors of the economy (construction, electronics, pharmaceuticals, tires). Some companies can not use insurance coverage in connection with the sanctions (oil companies, companies from the Crimea). In addition, offers of insurance companies is not available for small businesses. If we add to this the relatively high rates and low levels of coverage, we get the image of today's market in Russia. Despite these limitations, we expect that the market will dynamically develop and grow.
How does Astreos fit in your overall strategy?
OS: We deeply believe that participation in Astreos help us in this. I mean not only the cross-selling and common work on international clients, but also marketing advantages in contacts with insurance companies and potential customers.
PDF: Astreos fits in perfectly with our 5 year expansion plans (this is our third plan since the beginning). We realize the importance of having a diversified portfolio but at the same time, which stays coherent as it allows cross-selling between the different classes of Corporate business we cater for, which are : Property (which includes some Motor Insurance), Volontary Medical and Personal Accident, Marine and Reinsurance and lastly, being the latest addition, Trade Credit Insurance. We remain very focused on our core businesses and dedicated to our clients.
What are your respective background?
For the record, we would like to stress that both Peter and Oleg are fluent in several languages. Peter speaks fluently Italian, French and English while Oleg speaks Polish, Russian and English.
PDF: My history is straighforward having spent my professional insurance career in Marine Underwriting Agencies in France working for a number of 1st class insurers.
OS : As for me, my career in TCI started in 1999 in the Polish State Agency for Export Credit Insurance (KUKE) as Regional Director. Since 2006, I have worked in Russia, first as a Country Sales Manager at Curver company, then starting 2011 as a Sales manager and Regional Sales Director at Euler Hermes Russia. I then joined interis to develop the TCI department in 2016.
Many thanks to Peter Davies Frank and Oleg Stasevich from Interis for this interview.
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