Alan Waddington, Director of Distribution at ICMIF member Cirencester Friendly, uses the story of MySpace’s decline to highlight the risks of losing touch with members. In the protection industry, he argues, annual reviews are a vital opportunity to engage with members, ensure cover remains suitable, and reinforce the value of protection. Far from prompting cancellations, […]
Mutual and cooperative insurers stand apart in today’s financial services landscape because their purpose is to serve people, not shareholders. In this personal reflection, Matt Harvey, Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer, MAS (New Zealand) shares insights from more than 15 years of experience working in New Zealand’s mutual sector, including his current role at MAS. […]
In a crowded financial services market, mutuals offer something distinct. Our ownership structure shapes our decisions, reinforces our purpose and offers a meaningful alternative to shareholder-driven models. In today’s environment, where trust in financial institutions is under pressure, our model has fresh relevance. People are looking for providers who are transparent, ethical and committed to […]
In the seventh in a series of blogs published by e-MFP to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives, Sabbir Patel of ICMIF Foundation and Matthew Genazzini of the Microinsurance Network discuss the role of cooperatives in scaling up inclusive insurance, what these partnerships can look like in practice, and what challenges have to be overcome […]
As a young professional at UK-based NFU Mutual, Dan Demmar’s visit to two ICMIF members in Canada, Wawanesa and Beneva, is a standout example of the value in being part of ICMIF. Through ICMIF’s support – both in brokering international connections and providing leadership training for emerging talent – he took part in a two-week […]
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, trust remains the cornerstone of meaningful innovation—especially in the life and health insurance sector. In this guest article, Pravina Ladva, Group Chief Digital and Technology Officer at ICMIF Supporting Member Swiss Re explores the findings of a new global survey, Trust in the era of GenAI, revealing that customers […]
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing how the desire to develop and provide learning opportunities for emerging and mid-level leaders is growing across our global network of member organisations. Whether through our Advanced Management Course, the Virtual Young Leaders Programme or our virtual learning courses, it is truly encouraging to […]
In this guest blog, Thomas Lundberg, CEO of Åland Mutual (Finland), reflects on a recent visit to two fellow ICMIF member organisations based in the Netherlands, facilitated by ICMIF. He shares what he considers to be his key insights and learnings from the visit. If you are, like us at Åland Mutual, a small and […]
In this guest blog, Adam Heath, Chief Executive Officer at FMG (Farmers Mutual Group, New Zealand Aotearoa) and member of ICMIF’s Board of Directors, reflects on his organisation’s heritage and the critical role that mutuality has played in FMG’s 120 year history. February and March 2025 marked two significant milestones for FMG — the second […]
As the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025) gets underway, this guest blog from ICMIF Chair Rob Wesseling offers timely insight into the growing relevance of the cooperative and mutual models. Rob, who also serves as President and CEO of Co-operators (Canada), explores the current momentum behind our global movement and the vital role […]