FWD Group Holdings Limited has renewed its partnership with INSEAD for another four years to continue providing leadership training to its top agency leaders across Asia. Initially launched in 2019, the FWD Elite Signature at INSEAD programme has already trained 100 leaders. With this extension, an additional 100 leaders from Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Macau SAR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam will have the opportunity to participate.
Commenting on the continued collaboration, Lee Yen Ho, group chief distribution and proposition officer at FWD Group, said investing in a strong distribution network supports the company’s aim of transforming the way people view insurance. “We want to build the most customer-led, trusted, professional, productive, and digitally enabled advisory team in Asia”, she said.
The programme includes a five-day training session at INSEAD’s Fontainebleau campus in France, focusing on leadership, sales management, business planning, and emerging trends in artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will also benefit from six months of coaching and ongoing access to an alumni network offering masterclasses and events.
INSEAD’s dean of executive education and Asia campus, Sameer Hasija, said that the partnership equips FWD’s agency leaders with the knowledge and tools to succeed, benefiting their careers and clients. “We look forward to witnessing the continued growth of FWD’s top talent as they navigate the dynamic landscape of the insurance industry”, he said.
This year, FWD made strides in agency development, ranking sixth in the 2024 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Top 10 Multinational Companies rankings for the third year in a row. As of July 2024, FWD had 2,089 MDRT members, placing second in Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and fifth in Hong Kong SAR. The MDRT is an independent global association recognized for excellence in the life insurance and financial services industries.
Alongside leadership development, FWD Group recently marked its 11th anniversary by announcing 11 community grants across Asia, aimed at promoting financial literacy, career development, social entrepreneurship, and health and well-being. These grants support diverse initiatives, such as financial education training for media professionals in Cambodia, mental health programs for high school students in Hong Kong SAR, and assistance for female entrepreneurs in Indonesia.
Additional initiatives include STEM education for underprivileged students in Malaysia, financial literacy programs in the Philippines, and support for children with chronic illnesses in Singapore. These grants are a key component of FWD’s wider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, underscoring its dedication to uplifting local communities across its markets in Asia.
