Mignon: Proud and fully aware of the responsibilities as the head of such a fine company. It’s a demanding job, but one worth doing.
I also feel a great deal of enthusiasm for the energy and potential of this company and the idea of what we can build on the solid base we’ve put together.
Mignon: "Build on the solid base"
Laurent Mignon has been the head of AGF France since his predecessor Jean-Philippe Thierry joined the Allianz AG board on January 1, 2006. In an interview, Allianz.com News spoke to him about the future of AGF and about being a part of the Allianz Group.
Laurent Mignon
? You've been at the helm of AGF France since January 1, how do you feel?
? What are the main strategic lines today?
Mignon: In recent years we’ve restored our profitability. Today development is at stake. People have the habit of opposing profitability and growth. We want to reconcile profitability and growth through better knowledge of our clients. The goal is to offer them higher service quality and products that meet their needs, both at the right price.
To do this, we must pursue three objectives: continue to simplify our processes and make our organization more flexible; increase productivity by offering more tools and resources to our networks; and finally, focus on the client, which is to say permanently reflect on the type of clients we target and on how to bring them value and innovative products and services at the right price.
To do this, we must pursue three objectives: continue to simplify our processes and make our organization more flexible; increase productivity by offering more tools and resources to our networks; and finally, focus on the client, which is to say permanently reflect on the type of clients we target and on how to bring them value and innovative products and services at the right price.
? The client is at the heart of your strategy. What are your strong points and the possible paths to improvement?
Mignon: Our convenience networks certainly constitute our main asset. Our financial advisers and general agents are professional and have real knowledge of their clients.
The first path to improvement is our understanding of the client. To give our clients more, we must know and understand them better and achieve a level of quality in the products and services we offer that puts us among the best.
Our second path to improvement is the quality of our service and the attention we pay our clients at the various times of contact. I would like to draw particular attention to the handling of complaints.
The first path to improvement is our understanding of the client. To give our clients more, we must know and understand them better and achieve a level of quality in the products and services we offer that puts us among the best.
Our second path to improvement is the quality of our service and the attention we pay our clients at the various times of contact. I would like to draw particular attention to the handling of complaints.
"Being a part of Allianz Group will help us be among the best"
? What is AGF France’s place within the Allianz Group?
Mignon: Allianz is the leading European financial services provider and a major player at world level. AGF France wants to be an important part of this organization. I’m convinced that belonging to the Allianz Group is a great opportunity and an asset which will allow us to make enormous progress and benefit considerably in terms of our competitiveness.
In many ways we’ll be better off together than on our own. By combining our energy and expertise, we will bring our clients quality solutions, particularly in the areas of major risks and asset management.
Allianz Group has many experts with a wide range of experience. We will have the opportunity to share expertise and introduce best practices, as is already the case in the Sustainability Program. That means being a part of Allianz Group will help us be among the best, not only by improving efficiency, but also through the permanent efforts to be at the forefront of our market.
In many ways we’ll be better off together than on our own. By combining our energy and expertise, we will bring our clients quality solutions, particularly in the areas of major risks and asset management.
Allianz Group has many experts with a wide range of experience. We will have the opportunity to share expertise and introduce best practices, as is already the case in the Sustainability Program. That means being a part of Allianz Group will help us be among the best, not only by improving efficiency, but also through the permanent efforts to be at the forefront of our market.
? What would you like for AGF France in 2006?
Mignon: In 2004 and 2005 we met all our objectives. I hope that in 2006 we won’t lose the habit of respecting our commitments. I also would like us to succeed in mobilizing the company towards a stronger customer approach. Every employee must be focused on the customer.
But this objective must not call our achievements in the area of profitability into question. I want to emphasize that profitability has not taken a back seat under the pretext that we want to develop. There can be no growth without profitability. We must grow and we are working towards that goal.
As with all content published on this site, these statements are subject to our Forward Looking Statement disclaimer, provided on the right.
But this objective must not call our achievements in the area of profitability into question. I want to emphasize that profitability has not taken a back seat under the pretext that we want to develop. There can be no growth without profitability. We must grow and we are working towards that goal.
As with all content published on this site, these statements are subject to our Forward Looking Statement disclaimer, provided on the right.
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