Audio Attachment Listen to Wilhelm van Zyl, CEO of Metropolitan Holdings Limited
Visiting Wilhelm van Zyl, CEO of South Africa based Metropolitan Holdings Limited, is confident the company’s Ghanaian joint venture, Metropolitan Life Ghana is poised to lead a market share expansion outlay in the West African sub-region.
Zyl, appointed CEO of the over a century-old financial services company only last April, was enthused with Metropolitan Life Ghana’s half-year financial performance showing total operating profit up by 10 per cent and explained that in a robust market and turbulent times of global recessions, double digit growths are remarkable achievements.
“I think double digit growth in any market in the financial services at the moment, I will take even though it is the beginning of the year and I think it is a solid foundation. You want to grow fast, but you want to have controlled growth, and I think that’s important that you get the administrative process right so it doesn’t grow away from you. Again you are dealing with people’s money, people’s trust, and you need to be able to deliver on your promise.”
Zyl, in the company of Diop Frimpong, CEO of Metropolitan Life Ghana and Justin Van Den Hoven, Group Executive, Metropolitan International, addressed a press conference in Accra to shed light on the company’s business and direction, and said Metropolitan's international operations also showed positively.
Africa's importance
Beside Ghana, the South African company, with its head office in Bellville, Cape Town, has offices in Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Lesotho and Swaziland and Zyl’s visit is his personal undertaking to interact with staff and assess markets in which metropolitan operates.
According to him, Africa (minus South Africa) constitutes 15 percent of Metropolitan Holdings’ business and the company intends to grow that portfolio to 20 percent and more, and West Africa offers just the perfect challenge for the desired growth.
“West Africa or markets with larger populations, interesting regulatory reform, I think it’s passed through a difficult cycle of political reform a while ago so there is a lot of stability …it is also a market that has demonstrated acceptance of the products that we serve…”
Diop Frimpong said Metropolitan Life Ghana seeks to become the insurer of choice in the financial services, with a wide range of products developed to satisfy all risk and financial needs, a state of the art administration system, tried and tested processes and knowledgeable, well trained and highly motivated staff.
Established about two years ago, Metropolitan Life Ghana last year excited the industry with the launch of five insurance products; FINANCIAL PROVIDER, PENSION PROVIDER, STUDY PROVIDER, FAMILY FUNERAL PROVIDER and MASTER PLAN in Accra.
Diop told myjoyonline.com that the products, designed for all pockets, (as the Metropolitan brand is particularly noted for its focus in the low and middle-income markets) are doing well.
