Surety: a business all about relationships

One of my greatest passions in life is people. And I’m lucky that in my role as a Regional Contract Surety Manager based in New York City, I spend every day engaging with a variety of people. The surety niche is a true relationship business. While finance and contract analysis skills are important, the heart of the job is meeting new people, forging relationships, and building trust.

I joined Allianz Trade in July 2021 with 12 years of surety experience under my belt. What attracted me to Allianz Trade was its international presence and world leadership in credit underwriting and global capabilities. I perform many of the same responsibilities as in my previous role, but I’ve been entrusted with a much larger geographical territory.

Surety in North America is a highly competitive and mature industry.  To generate growth, a surety company must bring credibility, and demonstrate a long-term commitment to the market. It also helps that Allianz Trade offers a fresh perspective, which I attribute to our comfort in the underwriting business around the world, and a European perspective on credit. The prospect of building a sturdy foundation for the company throughout the northeastern US is exciting. I see enormous potential here for Allianz Trade.

My job is to be an expert resource for surety, which means being knowledgeable about all facets of the surety market. I attend local events, meet with all kinds of people, and teach them about the benefits of working with Allianz Trade.

Together with my colleagues and business partners, we develop collaborative underwriting approaches that fit our clients’ unique needs. We have a lot of freedom to lead our own operations as we grow the business in alignment with the corporate structure. This high level of trust to grow and thrive in the industry is extremely satisfying.

Here in the US, we compete with over 100 surety markets. Within my region, I serve as the main Allianz Trade contact person for contract surety to brokers and agents as they seek out the best possible surety partners for their clients. Brokers approach multiple sureties, and a large decision-making factor is their experience with the company. That’s why local knowledge and relationship building are such crucial aspects of the job.

2021 was a great year with excellent accounts written by our team and record gross written premium. Our team of regional managers grew significantly, helping us project confidence out into the market. We have the right people in place to deliver on our goals. On a personal level, I was proud of the relationships I carried over from my previous role and the new ones I was able to form.

The experience our Trade Credit Insurance team provides is invaluable. I enjoy working closely with teammates in different units and around the world.  Working for a global company is a huge advantage. If interested, there are opportunities to move abroad and mix with people of other cultures!