FWD Group Holdings Limited has announced a four-year partnership with INSEAD to offer world-class leadership development opportunities to its top agency leaders. The FWD Elite Signature program, introduced in 2019, has already provided professional development to 100 FWD agency leaders. The program is expected to reach another 100 in the Philippines, Cambodia, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam in the next phase.
“At FWD, investing in a high quality distribution network is an important part of our vision of changing the way people feel about insurance. We want to build the most customer-led, trusted, professional, productive, and digitally enabled advisory team in Asia,” said Lee Yen Ho, Group Chief Distribution & Proposition Officer at FWD Group.
“Our agency leaders greatly value the opportunity to be educated at INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools. It’s been truly impressive to see the personal and professional growth of our agency leaders who experience the FWD Elite Signature at INSEAD programme,” added Lee Yen Ho.
A highlight of the program is a five-day residential session at INSEAD’s Fontainebleau campus in France. The on-campus training includes interactive sessions on leadership and entrepreneurship, business planning, sales management systems and processes as well as emerging developments in artificial intelligence.
After the residential program, participants will receive six months of coaching as well as ongoing access to an alumni network offering masterclasses and events.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with FWD for this unique leadership development program. The INSEAD experience will empower the agency leaders with knowledge, tools and skills to excel, benefiting both themselves and their clients. We look forward to witnessing the continued growth of FWD’s top talent as they navigate the dynamic landscape of the insurance industry,” said Sameer Hasija, INSEAD Dean of Executive Education and Dean of Asia Campus.
“Our partnership with INSEAD is just one of many exciting perks in our new ‘Grow Your Business Big & Fast’ model. Doing so helps our agents and agency leaders better shape the financial futures of more Filipinos while building their own business and legacies,” added FWD Philippines Head of Agency, Arnolfo “Nol” de Leon.
FWD Philippines President & CEO, Manuel “Jumbing” De Rosas also emphasized that this partnership boosts advisory teams to accelerate their path toward MDRT success. “We are proud to continue this partnership and provide our network with the best opportunities. By equipping our team to set new benchmarks in the industry, they are also able to deliver innovative solutions and outstanding results that shape the future of insurance in the country.”
Reflecting its ongoing investments in agency leader development, FWD Group recently announced that it ranked number six in the 2024 Million Dollar Round Table (“MDRT”) Top 10 Multinational Companies rankings for the third consecutive year. Overall, FWD Group now has 2,089 MDRT members as of 1 July 2024. In each of Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, FWD ranked number two for MDRT membership. In Hong Kong SAR, FWD ranked number five.
The MDRT is a global independent association recognised as a standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services industries. The association requires members to serve clients with exemplary performance and the highest standards of ethics, knowledge, service and productivity.
