Special Section sponsored by TMPAA |
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Zurich Programs administered include: general and professional liability, auto rental operations, specialty auto, inland marine, ambulance, and builders’ risk Teamwork. A word that serves as a hallmark for Zurich in North America and its business relationship with program administrators. “Surely, all carriers who engage in partnerships with program administrators exercise diligence and conduct careful research about the programs of interest. We think it makes good business sense to go the extra mile,” explains Craig Fundum, president of Zurich in North America’s Programs & Direct Markets business. “Our dedicated, experienced team of subject-matter experts works very closely with program administrators (PAs) by conducting extensive research to learn a project’s marketing objectives. We study specific programs’ past successes and their stumbling blocks or failures. We can implement tactics and strategies created by the PA’s marketing experts, and then work with their teams to measure a program’s effectiveness. Together, we aim for continuous improvement, and we make a point to consult with our PAs on best practices and on options geared toward optimum cost effectiveness.” This operational philosophy has helped produce mutual success for Zurich’s program business and its PA partners for nearly a half century. Other factors that play important roles in those successes include a consistency in coverages and limits requirements, a tendency to deal in program sizes that typically represent a minimum annual premium of $5 million, and the distributing of underwriting authority to a PA with referral and authorization thresholds. Zurich’s growing list of PA connections is anchored by a relationship with segments of the specialty automobile transportation industry that dates back to the late 1940s when long-haul trucking served as Zurich’s entry into program business. Since then, long-term partnerships with such categories as limousines, commercial auto and garage liability were developed, and many continue. Fundum credits Zurich’s membership in the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) as an important aspect of his company’s solid stature as a major carrier partner with PAs. “Zurich,” he notes, “has enjoyed a 20 percent compound annual growth rate in its program business over the past decade. From our existing partnerships, and with new programs in the foreseeable future, we expect to continue that acceleration. By associating with other TMPAA members, we learn more and more about their programs. At the same time, they become acquainted with our capabilities as a productive carrier.” Zurich currently handles nearly four dozen profitable programs. Several of them have been on the Zurich roster for 25 years or more. In addition to the specialty auto categories cited above, several long-standing Zurich partners—and some relatively recent program additions—include workers’ compensation, inland marine, builders’ risk, ambulance, tanning salons, and property excess and surplus (E&S). Zurich offers the following liability products: • General liability In summarizing Zurich’s relationships with PA partners, Fundum re-emphasizes the teamwork theme. “An efficient, comprehensive process with program experts is a key benefit delivered by Zurich’s Programs team. As an additional benefit, product filings are executed by experienced professionals for compliance with all jurisdictional regulations, and we carefully lead program administrators through the implementation process, including thorough training on our procedures and systems. “To any TMPAA member, in fact to any agency considering program affiliations with carriers, be assured that you can count on Zurich’s financial strength and stability as a global insurer and an ‘A’ rated company by A.M. Best. Our focus is on results. For you...and for us.” *
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