Dimitris Tsesmetzoglou
CEO OF MATRIX INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE BROKERS
Greece 2020 I Finance I Interview
BIOGRAPHY he completed his Bachelor of Science, in Insurance and Investment in the City University Business School (now Cass) in 1997. He holds also an MBA from Leicester University. He began his career in London’s Insurance Market in 1998 in Windsor Professional Indemnity and moved to BMS International in 2002 to launch a local office in Athens.
“OUR DAY TO DAY WORK IS DRIVEN BY A BUSINESS MODEL THAT FOSTERS INNOVATION.”
WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE PIRAEUS BROKERS' ACQUISITION IN 2019?
MATRIX has being holding, for quite a number of years, the leading market share not only in the Reinsurance sector, but as well in the specialised heavy technical and capacity risks. Nevertheless, in order to maintain our historic double-digit growth we realized that sooner or later we should be extending our high-level services to the original front end client. And who a better partner than Piraeus Bank, the largest banking institution in Greece. In addition, it should be noted that due to various reasons, pure reinsurance is on freefall decline. Therefore, our decision was the only logical and sustainable one: we are now able, by teaming up with the largest bank in Greece, to reach large corporate clients and offer directly unprecedent and holistic services, matched with vertical price efficiencies, and a unique profoundness. The Greek Economy is changing and this transition requires the right partners. During the last 6 years we have thoroughly invested in preparing for this change as, since then, we strongly believed it was only a matter of time. Something that no other company in our sector shared or did.
HOW DO YOU REMAIN A MARKET LEADER WHILE SUPPORTING THE INSURANCE NEEDS FOR A DEMANDING CLIENT BASE?
We have enriched our human resources with the experienced team of Piraeus Brokers, while our presence in Greece has intensified through offices and account executives in Thessaloniki, as well as expert representatives in Western Greece (Ioannina) and Crete. We have attracted talent, professionals with high levels of expertise in pivotal and neuralgic insurance sectors for our corporate customers, amongst which employee benefits, credit insurance, marine, construction, agriculture, tourism and last, but not least cyber insurance.
"INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE, TRANSPARENCY AND PEOPLE
CENTRICITY, OUR CORE VALUES SINCE THE VERY
BEGINNING, ARE THE COMPASS THAT GUIDES US
AND HAVE ENSURED, DURING THE LAST 16 YEARS,
OUR STRONG AND SUSTAINED GROWTH."
Today we are proud of our “special force” of insurance experts who deeply understand the complex and challenging aspects facing the full spectrum of entrepreneurship: from F&B companies, to 5-star hotel chains, industrial groups, hospitals, energy and amenities providers and of course financial institutions
WHAT IS YOUR GLOBAL COVERAGE OFFERING FOR INSURING LARGE CORPORATE RISKS?
The acquisition of Piraeus Brokers has been completed through a strategic partnership with Howden Broking Group, the retail broking arm of Hyperion Insurance Group, currently handling a combined Gross Written Premium of over US$22 billion. Through this exceptional partnership MATRIX has ensured a worldwide access in terms of markets, innovation and services, but even more a trusted partner network that exceeds 10.000 professionals in 90 plus territories and includes all types of specialisms.
MATRIX HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AS AN INDEPENDENT INSURANCE BROKER. WHAT ARE THE GROUP’S MAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES?
Integrity, excellence, transparency and people centricity, our core values since the very beginning, are the compass that guides us and have ensured, during the last 16 years, our strong and sustained growth. Furthermore, our day to day work is driven by a business model that fosters innovation. Our continuing pursuit of excellence creates and reinforces a unique mix of experts committed in placing and servicing sophisticated solutions and offering added value services, the heart and soul of our Group’s philosophy. Our focus is not on the transactional part of the business. It’s the advice before and the handling after that matters.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO FOREIGN INVESTORS INTEREST IN GREECE?
Greek entrepreneurship is “open for business”, ready for the GLOCAL era, that is the combination of Local expertise with International knowhow. So, today with a Government that is clearly oriented and committed towards simplifying, unburdening and updating the legal, procedural and fiscal framework, investing in Greece, is far more appealing and will prove to be more lucrative than ever. And we will always be here to provide the best insurance solutions no matter the size of the investment. In the next 3 years to follow, Greek economy and businesses will have gone through a whole and total revamp. I guess it’s the investors’ decision, how early they want to capture this opportunity.