This year marks the 40th anniversary of ICMIF/Americas, the Americas’ regional association of the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF). Founded in 1979 by ICMIF with 11 member organizations in three countries, today, ICMIF/Americas represents 61 member organizations in 19 countries throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

To celebrate the 40th year of the association, ICMIF/Americas has today published exclusive new data on the performance of the Americas region in an infographic which showcases the solidarity and collaboration of its member organizations there. Collectively, ICMIF/Americas members represent USD 40 billion in insurance premiums and hold USD 267 billion in total assets (2017 figures). ICMIF/Americas member organizations employ a total of 47,000 people and serve 58 million members/policyholders across the region.

Last month, over 150 leaders from ICMIF/Americas member organizations gathered in Mendoza  (Argentina) for the 2019 ICMIF/Americas Annual Conference, hosted by the Argentinean Association of Cooperative and Mutual Insurers (AACMS) and the Association of Insurers of the Interior of the Argentine Republic (ADIRA).

The theme of the conference was Collaborating and Innovating for the Digital Age and focused on the ways in which cooperative and mutual insurers are embedding innovation and agility into their businesses and thereby harnessing the power of collaboration in order to thrive in the fast-changing, digital age.

The agenda featured keynote presentations from Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and Hilde Vernaillen, Chair of ICMIF and CEO at ICMIF member organisation P&V (Belgium), as well as more than 30 speakers from member organizations. Delegates listened to best-practice presentations on digital transformation and innovation, values-based strategies, emerging ecosystems, new product design and underwriting practices, cultural change, sustainability and leveraging collaboration opportunities.

For the first time, the 2019 ICMIF/Americas Annual Conference also featured a Young Leaders Program, designed specifically for young employees at member companies. In total, 15 Young Leaders participated in the Mendoza event, providing them with a unique professional development and personal growth opportunity.