It is a discussion by a panel of leading brokers talking about current issues under the title of 'Brokerage in the storm: turning a nightmare in an opportunity?' The idea, comment the Forum organisers, is that the 'nightmare' resulting from investigations into broker remuneration practices might become an opportunity for redefining a business model 'which probably needed to be revisited even before the explosion of the Spitzer bomb'.
By the time of the Forum, FERMA expects to have available European-wide recommendations for transparency of broker remuneration agreed with the European insurers' association, CEA, and the intermediaries' body, BIPAR, for participants to discuss.
Maurizio Castelli, chairman of the International Federation of Risk Management Associations (IFRIMA) and group risk manager of Pirelli Group, will speak, and act as moderator. The broker speakers are Dick P M Verbeek, chairman & CEO of Aon Risk Services International, William Malloy, named president of Marsh in March 2005, Richard Bucknall, vice chairman and chief operating officer, Willis Group, and John Percy-Davis, chairman of EOS RISQ.
Immediately before the broker session, a panel of insurance leaders will tackle the question of where the market is now and where it is going.
The participants are Alexander Baugh, president and CEO of AIG Europe, Geoff Riddell, CEO, Zurich Global Corporate, Axel Theis, CEO of Allianz Global Risks, Andrew Kendrick, chairman and CEO, ACE European Group, and Martin Albers, head of risk solutions and member of the Swiss Re Group executive board.
The programme, however, is far from insurance based. Key topics for workshops and other presentations include:
- CRISIS MANAGEMENT
- BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING
- BASEL II SOLVENCY REQUIREMENTS
- ALTERNATIVE RISK TRANSFER, CAPTIVES AND INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (IAS)
- INTERCULTURAL ISSUES
- DELOCALISATION TO CHINA
- DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' STRATEGY
- ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES, THE NEW EU DIRECTIVE
- COMMERCIAL CONTRACT MANAGEMENT
- RISK MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA.
Besides traditional workshops and sessions, the programme will feature brainstorming sessions on topics like central Europe and the impact of freedom of services, transport and driving policies, terrorism, risk management added value, and human resources and addictive behaviour. Finally, there will be 50 exhibitors taking part and 37 companies are committed to sponsorship and the exhibition.
The Forum programme is now available on the FERMA web site: www.ferma-asso.org
