Why Traditions Matter

With the arrival of another new year, many of us will be busy celebrating various traditions which not only remind us of events from the past year, but which also imbue us with an optimistic feeling for what we might achieve in the months ahead.

Traditions remind us of past challenges and where we are coming from. It gives us a moment to reminisce the past. This year, with the 70th anniversary of AIG Belgium, we had the chance to honour the most important assets of our company: our clients, partners and employees. Celebrations like these create context for a meaningful pause. In other words: a moment of reflection and the ability to reunite. I believe that AIG’s centennial year in 2019 will bring back this sense of gratitude and reconnection.

On the one hand, traditions move with the spirit of the time, technological developments and historical events. Brexit is one of the consequences of those events and that’s why we are trading as AIG Europe S.A (AESA) since the 1st of December. As a new European entity, we can guarantee our clients, partners and colleagues contract certainty under AIG’s new structure, regardless of the UK’s future relationship with the European Union. With our new AESA CEO, Thomas Lillelund, I am convinced that we are ready to face any future changes or challenges.

I am confident that with your continued support and commitment, we will write an exciting new chapter together.

On the other hand, traditions have a fundamental character. They reflect our values and the reason why we are doing what we do: make your world safer. Next year, we will continue to strengthen AIG’s position within the market and collaborate with our partners to deliver solutions that help our industry and customers to be prepared for the future. I am confident that with your continued support and commitment, we will write an exciting new chapter together.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the end of year Holiday season!


Pierre-Emmanuel Bogaerts
Branch Manager AIG Belux