He explained that VIG Re had benefited from a smooth leadership transition, after a two-year handover process before he took over as CEO on 1 January 2025. According to Sonndorfer, the company was handed over in a financially strong position, allowing management to focus on development rather than restructuring.
Looking ahead, he said the reinsurer’s ambition is to build on its Central and Eastern European roots and continue evolving into a more global company. At the same time, he acknowledged that competition is intense in all markets and that VIG Re must prove its value to clients every day.
Internally, Sonndorfer identified culture as a key pillar of the company’s future development. He referred to the launch of the “One VIG Re” program, described as a cultural and change initiative aimed at improving cooperation, communication and the way teams work together across the organization.
He also pointed to a shift from a more centralized model to a more decentralized one, with greater decision-making power placed closer to clients and local markets. In his view, this approach should go hand in hand with stronger accountability and a workplace culture that encourages learning rather than fear of mistakes.
Another major priority is digital transformation. Sonndorfer said VIG Re is already testing several AI-related use cases linked to underwriting and sees the closer integration of business and technology as essential for the future.
Over the next three to four years, he said, VIG Re’s development will continue to rest on these three pillars: culture, technology and the next strategic steps in expanding the Group’s footprint beyond continental Europe.
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