BUSINESS
We Understand the Needs of Our Clients,
We Cover Their Risks
Twenty-two years ago, Roman Horváth, Jitka Hradilová, and Peter Diľ decided to take a very significant
step: they had worked in insurance and they all had clear ideas about customer service in industrial
insurance. Their enthusiasm and resolution helped to establish SATUM CZECH, which has become
one of the biggest insurance companies in the Czech Republic. We asked the owners of the company
about their beginnings, current trends, and the importance of positive thinking and foresight.
Your company, SATUM CZECH, ranks
among the most significant insurance
companies in our country. What inspired
you to start the business together?
Roman: After university I briefly worked
in marketing jobs and later with an
insurance broker company which does
not exist any more. Then me, Jitka, and
Petr founded SATUM. We had already
had some experience in industrial
insurance, so our programme was clear.
In the very beginning we also knew there
was a gap in a market that had a limited
offer of insurance of traffic and transport
risks, and related advisory services.
Jitka: The late 1990s was an optimal
time to start this kind of enterprise.
There were many new products and
a great demand for professional service
in insurance broking. The time was very
hectic, especially in regards to keeping up
with all the legislative and administrative
requirements, all the possible contractual
relations,
contracting
insurance
companies, trading and settlements of
insurance, etc.
Peter: The very beginning of our business
was marked with the great floods of 1997.
We did lots of work for various people
who became our clients, and most of
them have remained our customers. We
have always aimed at having superior
quality and customized terms in our
insurance contracts and we have created
atypical ways to administer the insurance.
You operate in many sectors, yet I want
to ask what you think of the future and
development of Czech industry, and
what risks are you prepared to protect
your clients from?
Roman: I believe Czech industry is
doing well. We cooperate with a great
number of companies who are generally
economically very stable. There is no
doubt, however, that mostly because of
our close links to other economies, some
decrease will come. It will hopefully be
only short term and definitely not critical.
Besides the standard risks, we are ready
to cover risks related to acquisitions and
fusions of other companies in regards
to tax, legal and other risks, so-called
warranty and indemnity insurance.
Data safety and protection is a priority
in the digitized world: what is your
opinion on that?
Roman: Data and their storage is a daily
routine in each and every modern
company, whether it’s data about clients
and their behaviour, accounting and
finance, or production management and
supplies, etc. Even though companies are
fully aware of their great value in their
business, they do not always pay the best
attention to their data protection.
Large investment is often spent on data
back-up and net safety but users are often
neglected. Employees these days read
email on their phones and use remote
access to the company data via their
computers at home. Their comfort brings
the risk of the end application not being
safe enough, and becomes the Trojan
horse opening the system to an attack.
Peter: Company data leaks are often
solved only in the view on the effects
they have on the company itself, without
considering the further impact of the data
leak. Any leak damages the company as
well as the clients, business partners who
must pay extra costs of better safety,
remedies, etc.
Our experience proves that the most
frequent data leaks are caused by dated
hardware and software, loss or theft of
hardware, and, most often, humans. It can
be an end-user mistake or a purposeful
act. The impact on the company may
be enormous. First because of the loss
in profit, second because of fines. The
good reputation of the company can be
seriously damaged by news of the leak.
Data leaks cannot be totally prevented.
One of the ways to minimize its impact
is to have a good choice of customized
insurance of cyber risks.
You and your company are well known
for your social responsibility. What
projects are your priority?
Jitka: We love the country we live and
work in, and create values. Our relation
towards our home country is reflected in
our words as well as in the steps taken
by our company, a socially and regionally
responsible enterprise. I love art,
therefore I am happy that we regularly
sponsor cultural events. You can meet
us at some concerts of the Leoš Janáček
International Music Festival “Janáčkův
máj”. For many years we have supported
the Summer Festival of Shakespearean
Theatre, and others.
Roman: All three of us are very fond
of sports; we can be called fans and
enthusiast. We enjoy events which
bring people together both in sports
and culture. We are partners of the
National Heritage Sight – Lower Area of
Vítkovice (Dolní oblast Vítkovice, DOV).
We have been a long-term supporter to
sports clubs in our region, e. g. FC Baník
Ostrava, HC Vítkovice, NH Basketball
Ostrava and HC Frýdek-Místek.
Peter: In the past we have also been
partners to the prestigious awards of the
“Moravian-Silesian Nurse of the Year”,
we annually participate in the Nurses’
Ball. I am happy for these events as we
are also a significant broker covering risk
management in health care.
Roman: There are many opportunities to
help an individual, a group or all society.
We have started a survey within our
company this year, and the employees
of SATUM decide which non-profit
organizations will get our financial
support. Let me thank our colleagues
who engage with the vote. It feels great
to be in a team which understands the
needs of others and supports those in
need.
Thank you for the interview.
- editorial -
POSITIV 3/2019 ǀ 33