Zurich Financial Services Group congratulates the 69 successful graduates of its Global Associate Program (GAP) 2008/2009. At a graduation ceremony in Zurich, the 29 female and 40 male graduates, representing 17 nationalities, together with senior managers from Zurich, looked back on their 44-weeks deep dive into the world of insurance.
Zurich’s GAP focuses on providing in-depth on-the-job-experience, both at home and abroad, as well as on intensive classroom training. Every associate signs up for a core business area from a variety of disciplines such as Underwriting, Claims, Finance, Marketing and Distribution or IT where they want to play an important role right from the beginning. Besides the extensive technical training in their chosen discipline, the program includes an assignment to a different business area as well as an international rotation to further develop and deepen their knowledge.
Peter Goerke, Global Head of Human Resources, said: “Helping our people grow and develop has never been more important than in challenging times like these. People management therefore remains one of our four strategic cornerstones. The Global Associate Program is a powerful building block in our efforts to equip our employees with the right skills at the right time so that they can help Zurich to capitalize on the opportunities this market environment provides.”
Inga Beale, Global Chief Underwriting Officer and Head of Organizational Transformation, said: “The best way of learning is to prove oneself in a real business environment, and this is exactly what GAP is all about. But the program is not just beneficial for the graduates, but also for Zurich. Having worked with Global Associates in the last couple of months, I especially appreciate their dedication and the fresh ideas they bring to the organization.”
Urs Basler, Group Head Learning & Development, added: “Introduced three years ago, already more than 200 young talents from across the globe have attended our Global Associate Program. But what is probably more remarkable is the fact that more than 90% are still with Zurich. Unlike common graduates programs, Zurich’s GAP is unique in that the global associates have to deliver from the very first day in a real business environment including taking part in an international rotation.”
To learn more about Zurich’s GAP program click here
