Walter Jopp, CEO – Zurich Middle East

With our 30 years of experience in the Middle East, 2020 was a year that challenged us immensely, transforming the way we do business for a better future. Despite the wake of the global pandemic, our integrity has stood the test of time and allowed us to strive forward, keeping our customers at the centre of everything we do. Zurich’s commitment to you has always been there, but in times that it matters most we went the extra mile to provide our support with our contactless services, payment flexibility and reliability with claims ensuring you can count on us to be ‘Ready for Life’.

In reflection of 2020, the dynamism of the market from regulatory changes to pandemic disruptions we have overcome these challenges and set the standards high going into 2021. Our direct to customer products, YourLife and YourCare, gave our customers instant, affordable and simple solutions fully online transforming the way we provide for customer needs, hassle and contact free. For our distribution partners we set the ‘gold standard’ in the market with Z-Pro; an end-to-end quote and instant underwriting platform allowing customers to connect with financial professionals easier than ever. In a unique market like no other we became the scheme administrator for DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS), a revolutionary and fully digitized pensions scheme that continues to successfully provide a secure and affordable savings platform for thousands of employees in DIFC.

2020 taught us all that we can’t take anything for granted, at Zurich we promote the value of community with our employees, partnerships and customers and want to carry this forward into 2021. Our Z-One community allows you as customer to share your voice on how we can further make you ‘Ready for Life’ and achieve those life goals. As our employees have had to adapt to the work from home culture, we kept the community strong, with our sponsorship of the IPL and Golf providing a great outlet for the community to connect.

So, what does 2021 hold for us? This is a year to be optimistic, an opportunity to achieve those life goals in pursuit of being ‘Ready for Life’. With the standard set high in 2020 we have to build on what we started and continue to innovate in this agile, flexible and remote market environment. Following a successful pilot, Zurich’s own controlled distribution, Zurich Advisory Network will be fully launched. This is a key priority for 2021 and will be a major step in providing customers an increasing number of channels through which they can purchase Zurich’s financial solutions and services.

As our passion and commitment to our customers grows, we want to continue to provide more responsive and relevant solutions and services in more efficient ways. After such an eventful year we can only imagine… What will be better about 2021?