For Allianz, sustainability means long-term, multi-generational planning to ensure a successful future for the company. Astrid Zwick, who is responsible for the report in her role as Sustainable Development Manager of the Allianz Group, works in collaboration with the Group Centers and subsidiaries to compile a multitude of annual data and facts. Here she explains why the report is becoming more important every year.
"Retaining our competitive edge in the future"
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Astrid Zwick, Allianz Group Sustainable Development Manager
Allianz.com News: In this period of financial crisis, does anyone still care about sustainability?
Astrid Zwick: The financial crisis has undermined society's trust in the financial sector. Particularly during these times, we have observed that people want to know exactly how we go about developing sustainable solutions for our customers. Trust is a crucial value in our business, and we must prove that we will keep our promises even after many years, for example in the case of pension insurance. Allianz's long-term horizon and investment strategy – which increasingly focuses on sustainable as well as stable equities – position us well towards this challenge.
We have recognized that our customers have a new set of needs, and are more interested in financial topics as a direct result of the financial crisis. That's why promoting a general knowledge of financial issues is an important aspect of our commitment to social responsibility, and why we make our financial expertise available to every user on our website.
Exactly what information is provided in the sustainability reports, and who is most interested in this information?
Our investors are increasingly interested in the subject of sustainability. They conduct very detailed research on how we are approaching global problems so as to guarantee our future competitiveness. These days, our customers want to know the criteria we will use to invest their premiums; job applicants want to know whether Allianz will offer them the opportunity to demonstrate their sense of social responsibility; and political leaders want to know what we are doing to help stabilize the financial markets.
These questions are pertinent to our day-to-day business, and challenge us to clearly articulate Allianz's approach to, for example, asset management, health insurance, and industrial insurance, both as an employer and as a financial services provider. In our report, we address the trends and risks that will influence our customers and employees – and therefore our business – in the future.
What's new in the 2009 Sustainability Report?
We addressed some new topics this year: first of all, we wanted to describe in detail Allianz's systematic focus on its customers. In particular, we wanted to demonstrate that we take the feedback we receive from our customers very seriously, and effectively implement their suggestions. Our success is measured by whether we are successful in solving the pending challenges in collaboration with our customers, in a manner that is both economical and sustainable.
Secondly, we reported for the first time on a new strategic approach to managing Allianz's diverse social responsibility initiatives. We have developed a decision-making tool for our subsidiaries so that they can accurately support the local initiatives that best reflect the expertise and strategic priorities of the company. With this new approach, we believe that we can manage our social initiatives even more effectively and sustainably.
In the latest Sustainability Report, we also provide updates on current pilot projects on the theme of "employee involvement", and on several of our subsidiaries' initiatives that have received awards in recognition of their strategic vision.
Print copies can be ordered from Allianz4Good@allianz.com.
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