Meet Ewa Styn, Senior Claims Counsel at Sompo
Please tell us about your career journey and your path to Sompo.
I studied law in Germany focusing on European and International law. After graduating, I became an attorney with a very clear idea that I wanted to work internationally. I was fortunate enough to obtain a position as claims counsel at a leading European reinsurer. From there, I moved to the Barcelona office of a global financial lines insurer where I worked for 10 years with a truly international book of clients. I was in charge of handling Financial Lines claims for European banks and listed companies, focusing on Germany, Switzerland, Austria, CEE, and the Nordics. In this role, I also drove the settlement of some of the biggest D&O claims in these regions. I started at Sompo’s Barcelona office in March 2020, on the first day of the Covid-19 lockdown in Spain, with a remit to act as an intermediary between our London and European offices, to handle our claims in the region and to set up an efficient operating model for SI Insurance (Europe).
What’s our USP?
What sets Sompo apart for me is a combination of professionalism and agility – the drive with which we expand into new territories and set up more efficient processes to serve our clients better. The level of collaboration across borders is second to none – I’m working directly with my colleagues in London and across Europe every day and the team spirit is fantastic.
Tell us about an initiative at Sompo that you are most excited about.
I’m excited about our European expansion plans. This is a coordinated project between our operations, claims and underwriting teams that is really going to differentiate us from our competitors in the market. Clients and brokers are going to experience an exceptional claims service; one that is fast and personal, based on strong relationships. This facilitates the two-way exchange of information that ensures claims are paid swiftly when they need to be and helps to prevent losses from occurring wherever possible.
What is your idea of a perfect day outside of the office?
I’m passionate about travelling, spending time abroad and discovering new places. Some of my favourite places are Tanzania, Thailand, and Brazil. However, destinations like these have been out of reach during the last two years so I’ve been compensating by finding new spots in and around Barcelona – there are lots to choose from! Now that the restrictions are fully lifted, I’m looking forward to heading off, probably to a tropical place like Cuba or the Philippines.
Last word
The fusion of cultures at Sompo and the different leadership styles we are lucky enough to have means that we are a truly diverse organisation. This is critical for me; when you have homogeneous teams with the same type of people with the same mindset, it’s difficult to excel in finding truly new, creative, and innovative solutions. Every day I’m working with people of different nationalities and with different approaches. This is so inspiring – it keeps our people challenged, refreshed and alert, which is reflected in the high-quality service that we are able to provide to our clients.