Growing with hometown
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12/07/2001
When He Qi joined Allianz Head Office in Munich on January 1, 1994, he didn't have a single commercial insurance policy. Nor did he know much about insurance. Eight years later, he holds seven insurance policies and is glad to share his expertise, especially in China's market. "I made the right decision in joining Allianz," said the newly appointed chief representative of the Allianz Shanghai office. On finishing his MBA studies in engineering economics at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart at the end of 1993, he began his job hunt. "I only sent my resumes to companies that engaged in a business new to China and which had a long-term commitment to my motherland. I knew that only in a company like that would I, as a Chinese, have a rewarding and niche position," explained the 41-year-old chief representative. He had a hunch that Allianz would be the best place for him when he was surprised by the first question from Allianz's interviewer: "Are you from Shanghai?" This Shanghainese soon joined the largest German insurer, even though he knew almost nothing about insurance. There is one more thing he didn't know at that time - Allianz was busy preparing to set up a representative office in his hometown. In the year following, he worked in Allianz head office in different departments, including engineering, property, liability and claims handling. He spent six months in the overseas/international department of the Allianz head office and Bavarian branch. "That's what they call on-the-job training," He recalled. "They don't tell you what or how to do, but send you to a position and let you learn the ABCs by actually doing it." Thanks to five years' study in Germany, during which he had tried at least 25 odd jobs to support his studies, he was already used to working hard and learning. When he was sent back to work at the company's Shanghai office in July 1995, he had accumulated much experience in insurance. "But I can't say I knew all the ins and the outs at that time. I have learned even more from my work in China, especially from many local insurance companies," He said. Over the past six years, as assistant representative, and later, as representative, He was in charge of market research, various technology transfer programmes, client service, consulting for the local insurers, brokers, and the authorities in Shanghai, central and southwest China. During this period, Allianz kickstarted its life insurance joint venture with Shanghai Dazhong Co Ltd in Shanghai in 1999. Allianz also successfully participated in important reinsurance projects, such as the Ertan Dam in Sichuan Province, the Dayawan nuclearpower plant, and the Xiaolangdi Dam. Allianz is an active sponsor of China's insurance education. One example is a department of issuance studies to train graduate students at Shanghai Tongji University, where He Qi received a bachelor's degree in engineering economics in 1984. What he most takes pride in is good communication with local insurers. "We have put enormous emphasis on co-operation with the local insurance industry by providing worldclass management expertise and technical know-how," He said.
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