Industry-first senior executive development platform to groom next generation agency leaders
Manila, Philippines, 8 July 2019 – FWD Group (FWD) has announced the inaugural launch of the Elite Agency at INSEAD Program, an industry-first platform for top agency leaders to transform FWD’s next-generation salesforce in a digitally-connected world. This multi-year partnership with INSEAD, one of the world’s leading graduate business schools, provides a unique six-month intensive leadership and executive training program for top agency leaders in the Philippines and across the Asia region.
The FWD Elite Signature Program is part of FWD’s broader Elite Agency vision to build the most trusted, professional, productive, and digitally-enabled insurance advisory team in Asia. It aims to develop 100 world-class agency leaders that will lead and transform the way insurance sales is conducted, and ultimately support FWD’s wider vision to change the way people feel about insurance.
Developing top FWD agency leaders from the Philippines and the region
For the program’s inaugural class, five top agency leaders were chosen from each of these five FWD
markets: the Philippines, Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Representing FWD Philippines in the FWD Elite Signature program are five multi-awarded agency leaders from all over the country. They are Aquarius “Russ” Juson (SGA), Ed Dante Latonio (Carmel- Cebu), Jecelle Ramos (Fuji), Purita “Pure” Tane (Carmel-Manila), and Marion “Mai” Victoriano (Rainbow). Each went through a stringent selection process. They were chosen not only for their business performance, but also for their leadership potential, desire to grow and learn, and the ability to engage and operate in the digital world.
The Signature Program will be carried out in four distinct phases: (1) a three-month preparation on business planning and leadership agenda; (2) a one-week residential program at the INSEAD Fontainebleau campus in France, where they will learn the latest insights in sales management, leadership, and technology application; (3) a three-month coaching period to put their plan into action; and (4) a perpetual alumni platform that consists of master classes and regional networking opportunities.
Providing best-in-class leadership and entrepreneurship training
To kick off on August 19 this year at INSEAD, the residential program will see selected participants take part in a rigorous and tailored program in Fontainebleau, that consists of a blend of bespoke workshops ranging from leadership and entrepreneurship training, the importance of a digital ecosystem, business plan construction, as well as a master class on the latest sales management system and processes.
“We are proud to announce this industry first in launching the Signature Program and welcoming our inaugural class. This program is a game-changer for agency distribution and will elevate the professionalism of not just our agency but the whole industry,” Binayak Dutta, FWD’s Group Chief Distribution Officer & Managing Director, Emerging Markets, said.
“This program underscores FWD’s commitment to our talented sales force and we wish the Philippine team who will be taking part in this program all the very best,” said FWD Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Grimes. “We look forward to seeing their business and leadership capabilities flourish and they will undoubtedly be at the forefront to further our vision of changing the way Filipinos feel about insurance.”
V. (Paddy) Padmanabhan, Unilever Chaired Professor of Marketing, INSEAD said, “To be ready for the digital world of tomorrow, we have designed an engaging and enjoyable journey across 2 key pillars: How can you create a breakthrough business plan & strategy to take your business to the next level? How can we enhance your capability as a leader so that not only do you get better at leading yourself but also at leading others around you?”
About FWD Group
FWD Group spans Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Malaysia, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, employee benefits, Shariah and Family Takaful products across a number of its markets.
FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.
Established in Asia in 2013, FWD is the insurance business of investment group, Pacific Century Group.
About FWD Philippines
FWD Life Insurance Corporation (FWD Life) launched its commercial operations in September 2014. As of end-2018, FWD Life is the highest-capitalized life insurer in the Philippines with PhP 2.3 billion in paid-up capitalization.1 FWD Life now ranks 8th in the life insurance industry in terms of new business annual premium equivalent.
FWD Group spans Hong Kong & Macau, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, and Malaysia, offering life and medical insurance, general insurance, employee benefits, Shariah, and Family Takaful products across a number of its markets. Established in Asia in 2013, FWD is the insurance business arm of investment group, Pacific Century Group. In the Philippines, FWD has 14 business hubs located in key cities nationwide with its headquarters in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
FWD is focused on creating fresh customer experiences, with easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD aims to become a leading pan-Asian insurer that changes the way people feel about insurance.
For more information please visit fwd.com.ph.
1 www.insurance.gov.ph > Statistics > 2018 > Based on Paid-Up Capital
2 www.insurance.gov.ph > Statistics > 2018 > Based on New Business Annual Premium Equivalent
About INSEAD
As one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools, INSEAD brings together people, cultures and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society. A global perspective and cultural diversity are reflected in all aspects of its research and teaching.
With campuses in Europe (France), Asia (Singapore) and the Middle East (Abu Dhabi), INSEAD’s business education and research spans three continents. The school’s 154 renowned Faculty members from 40 countries inspire more than 1,400 degree participants annually in its MBA, Executive MBA, Executive Master in Finance, Executive Master in Change and PhD programmes. In addition, more than 11,000 executives participate in INSEAD’s executive education programmes each year.
In addition to INSEAD’s programmes on its three campuses, INSEAD participates in academic partnerships with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia & San Francisco); the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University near Chicago; the Johns Hopkins University/SAIS in Washington DC and the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York; and MIT Sloan School
of Management in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In Asia, INSEAD partners with School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai. INSEAD is a founding member in the multidisciplinary Sorbonne University created in 2012, and also partners with Fundação Dom Cabral in Brazil.
INSEAD became a pioneer of international business education with the graduation of the first MBA class on the Fontainebleau campus in Europe in 1960. In 2000, INSEAD opened its Asia campus in Singapore. In 2007, the school inaugurated a Centre for Research and Executive Education in the United Arab Emirates and officially opened the Middle East Campus in Abu Dhabi in 2010.
Around the world and over the decades, INSEAD continues to conduct cutting edge research and to innovate across all its programmes to provide business leaders with the knowledge and sensitivity to operate anywhere. These core values have enabled INSEAD to become truly “The Business School for the World”. (Press Release/GeiserMaclang)