Peter Marissen, International Pricing Director, joined Admiral over twenty years ago after completing his MBA at INSEAD. We find out what has kept him excited to this day and hear his advice for MBAs considering the SPARK program.
Peter Marissen, International Pricing Director, joined Admiral over twenty years ago after completing his MBA at INSEAD. We find out what has kept him excited to this day and hear his advice for MBAs considering the SPARK program.
You’ve been with us for over twenty years. What has made you stay?
I think it is the continual change and progress. So much has changed over the years and there are always news things happening. Since I joined, we have grown into new geographies, expanded our product portfolio and the business has evolved immensely. There’s always something exciting going on!
What has been the biggest milestone in this constant growth of the International Pricing Team?
Something that I found particularly exciting was going international. We had so much to learn about the European market. It took a lot of research and was a real game-changer for the business.
What do you look for in a successful International Pricing Manager (IPM) on the SPARK program?
When an IPM joins on the SPARK program, they initially complete a very thorough training period. We don’t expect people to come in with prior knowledge of insurance pricing, but they do need to be willing and able to learn from the bottom-up. It’s important that IPMs understand what makes our business so successful.
With the rise of cloud technology, machine learning and AI, I’m looking for people to take International Pricing to the next level. The insurance industry is constantly changing and the Pricing department is at forefront of this. A lot of our changes are Group-wide, so collaboration with our international operations is very common.
What is the International Pricing team dynamic like?
International Pricing is a very international team. We have several people who have joined after the MBA, as well as more junior analysts who have joined us from the operations and from our graduate program. This level of diversity creates a great atmosphere. The team is very social and collaborative and an ability to work with such a varied group of people is key.
With such diversity within the team and across the international operations, how do you ensure a shared vision?
We have a history of working very closely with our international counterparts and value regular communication. Of course, the pandemic has made physical visits less possible, but we collaborate online and I don’t feel distant from our colleagues in France, Italy and Spain. Effective communication is something that the Admiral Group takes very seriously, and I think it has served us well in International Pricing.
Why do you think MBAs should choose the SPARK program at Admiral?
For me, what makes the SPARK program at Admiral unique is the constant evolution of new initiatives. The opportunities that are created through Admiral’s innovative culture make it a fantastic place for ambitious MBAs to be. Our IPMs get a lot of exposure and are given the freedom to drive their own career.
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