Ida Luka-Lognoné: My diverse background in terms of family origins, working environment and enriching personal and professional experiences are of the utmost importance in my job. It gave me the ability to engage with different cultures, mentalities, and working behaviors which is crucial in our international, global business. It gave me the capacity to interact with and adapt myself to the expectations of the markets and partners and building successful and loyal multicultural leadership teams.
Ida Luka-Lognoné nominated for La Tribune Women's Award
Ms. Luka-Lognoné, you were born in Poland, grew up in Canada, and work in France. Has that diverse background helped you in your job?
My motto is very simple: people are great everywhere. They express themselves differently, they achieve their goals in a different manner. However their values, their drive, their interest for others are very similar.
You overlook a vast region at Allianz Global Assistance. What are the biggest challenges this represents?
Luka-Lognoné: I am in charge of 20 markets both in Europe and Asia. It requires frequent travelling and a very large scope of market issues. The challenge is to organize yourself, to prioritize the issues and strategic initiatives, and to motivate and lead very diverse and geographically spread teams.
At present, I concentrate on the Asia Pacific markets as we have a fantastic growth of more than 20 percent per year. China is booming, especially in the automotive industry and the travel sector, we have great development in India and strong plans in Singapore and Japan.
In the European markets, we work on innovation and the growth is coming from new products and distribution channels. Product lines are mainly based on demographic needs: aging population, more service-oriented society where health assistance and home assistance are the future.
Did you have any initial difficulties finding acceptance as one of only a handful of top European female executives?
Luka-Lognoné: It is clear that the first day on the Executive Committee of our group was of a certain challenge! Insurance is still very masculine at the top executive level and it was even more so 10 years ago. So I had to gain the trust of my colleagues and the acceptance of doing things differently as a foreigner…
At present, the situation is improving and at Allianz Global Assistance we are two women on the board, out of seven members in total. The whole debate and efforts to promote and facilitate diversity on boards is also very helpful. I do actively participate in the Allianz Diversity Council and launched the same at Allianz Global Assistance.
How did it feel to be nominated for the prestigious women's award by "La Tribune"?
Luka-Lognoné: I am thrilled to be among these 15 great women! Of course being a foreigner in France, it is even more exciting to be recognized. I take it as a great possibility to promote many things: the possibility to achieve personal goals even with an exotic diploma of a Polish university, the need to have a passion for what we do, the taste for taking risks in new ventures, the capacity to engage with various cultures and diverse markets, and last but not least the possibility to combine a successful professional career with a joyful family life.
Ida Luka-Lognoné
About Ida Luka-Lognoné
Ida LUKA-LOGNONE, Member of the Executive Committee and CEO of EMEA (Europe Middle East & Africa) and Asia Pacific zones.
50 year-old Ida Luka-Lognoné is of French-Polish nationality. She has master degrees from Cracow University, Paris Inalco and she graduated from Insead. Ida Luka-Lognone joined Elvia France in 1992, and in 1996, became the Development Director for Central and Eastern Europe, where she created Group entities in the Czech Republic and Poland. In 2000 she was named Director of the Europe Region for Mondial Assistance, and joined its Executive Committee in 2002. In 2007, her zone was expanded to include the Asia-Pacific region.
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