Asia Insurance Review started the Asia Insurance Industry Awards 20 years ago in 1997 and since then, there had been more than 10,000 entries and at about 250 names walk through our Hall of Fame as winners.
In this 20-year list of winners, some of them have since undergone changes, mainly due to M&As. This was most prominent with the brokers. HSBC Insurance Brokers, a two-time winner for Broker of the Year (2000 and 2006), was bought by Marsh, a five-time winner (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010); Aon Re, a two-time winner, for Reinsurance Broker of the Year (2003 and 2005) merged with Benfield which won five times (1997, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007) and the combined company went on to win the same Award another five times (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 and
2015).
Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) tops the list as an organisation which won the most times, 11 times in the past 20 years for Educational Service Provider of the Year.
Swiss Re and HSBC Group are the only two companies which had three wins in a single year. In 2014, Swiss Re won General Reinsurer of the Year, Life Reinsurer of the Year and Employer of the Year while HSBC Group won General Insurance Company of the Year, Broker of the Year and Innovation of the Year in 2000.
On the other hand, one winner, inreon which won the Innovation Award in 2002, went under even before the year was out.
The 20 years celebrated many great leaders, memorable veterans and heroism too. In 2009, a special Award was given to Mr Karambir Singh Kang under the Risk Management category for Outstanding Crisis Management following the sad terrorist attacks on the Taj Palace hotels in Mumbai in 2008.
While most of us may not have experienced such heart-stopping moments, nevertheless, the pressure is the same as markets continue to change and disrupt and creative solutions and planning are needed. And for these everyday heroes, our Awards are there to spotlight their shining examples every year.
We take a walk down memory lane through photos of the past 20 years’ Awards winners.