On 26 October 2007, the company was founded by well-known and acknowledged public figures and insurance experts from Hungary; its original name was CIG Central European Insurance Company. CIG was supported by the U.S. Inverstment bank Lehman Brothers. It also had a successful partnership with Brokernet, one of Hungary's largest financial agencies. In 2008, the company became market leader in niche markets like regular-premium, unit-linked life insurance products and closed the year with a turnover of US$ 13 million. In 2009, CIG held a 3% market share in domestic life insurance and generated over US$ 40 million in sales. On 1 January 2010, the company changed its name to CIG Pannonia Life Insurance Ltd. Later that year, the insurer commenced operations as a public limited company. The company's shares have been listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange. The first trading day was November 8, 2010. Between 2011 and 2015 CIG started its 100% non-life subsidiary, which focuses on domestic SMEs, Institutions of the state and local authorities, companies, professional chambers and associations. Throughout the years the subsidiary grew and stayed profitable. On the other hand, 2015 was the year when CIG broke up with Brokernet, setting up an all-time low at 135 HUF. This event disappointed many individual investors and speculants. As a result the stock became an unpopular investment in 2016. Between 2016 and 2018 the company attracted another institutional investor, the Konzlum Plc. They bought a 24.85% stake in CIG pushing up the stock price between 400-500 HUF.
Regional expansion
The first step of the Company’s regional expansion was the launch of the sale of its products in Romania in May 2009. Later, in September 2010, the Company began its sales activities in Slovakia as well. On 1 September 2010, the Company became a public limited company and is now called CIG Pannónia Life Insurance Plc.. The subscription procedure in October 2010 was highly successful and drew massive public interest. Later, after the initial public offering, the Company requested to be listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange and from 2011 listed on BSE's prime market. In April 2012 CIG started a cross-border service in Poland in the non-life segment. Followed by the Baltic States in 2013. The company launched their cross-border service in the non-life segment in Italy in September 2014 and in Spain in September 2017.
Products and business model
The main products include unit-linked life insurance and pension insurance, but CIG also sells traditional life insurance, funeral insurance, endowment and term life insurance and health insurance. Its subsidiary operates the property insurance business not only in Hungary but also in many European countries through cross-border services. CIG is primarily active in the life insurance sector. The most profitable products are pension insurance and unit-linked insurance.
Management
Beginnings
Former Minister of Finance and chairman of the central bank Zsigmond Járai was appointed to chair the Supervisory Board, which represents the owners. Béla Horváth, former top executive of various Hungarian insurance companies, was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The position of the CEO has been filled by dr. Ottó Csurgó since 18 April 2012, who is also the CEO of CIG Pannónia First Hungarian General Insurance Plc. The Company is heir in spirit to the First Hungarian General Insurance Company founded in 1857 by Henrik Lévay. In those days, as well as nowadays, Hungary lacked an insurance company run by Hungarian management, focusing on the Hungarian market and supported and privately financed by recognized and credible Hungarian personalities. Back then, just like today, it was necessary to have a professional leader with an intimate knowledge of the local economy and the opportunities of the insurance market, who had the organisational expertise necessary to build an entire new insurance company, who had significant past achievements and could convince major supporters to back the cause of founding a new insurance company.
Today
Gabriella Kadar joined the company in 2009 as alternative sales channel director. Prior she worked as fund manager, marketing and business development director for ING Group and Deloiette Hungary from 1994. She became the current CEO in 2014. Dr. Gabriella Kádár graduated from the Faculty of Law of ELTE. After being admitted to the Bar, she obtained qualifications in insurance law.
