Saison Automobile and Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. President and CEO Shiro Sato

Work is for the benefit of customers and society. Never forget the spirit of following through on your original intentions

■ Profile

He graduated from Oita University in 1981 and joined Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance (now Sompo Japan) the same year. He became a director and senior managing executive officer in 2015, a representative director and senior managing executive officer in 2016, a representative director and executive vice president in 2018, and a representative director and president of Saison Automobile and Fire Insurance in April 2020. As head of the sales department at Sompo Japan, he has continuously developed new business partners. He has an extensive network of contacts and many fans inside and outside the company are adored for his bright and energetic personality.

Insurance is an intangible service, and may not be very familiar to students. However, with the times, the insurance industry will also need to undergo various changes. President Sato has also taken on various challenges, and has boldly taken on challenges that others have not, without fear of failure. What does President Sato think about the significance of his work, and what does it mean to have the "power to change something"?

　During my university years, I devoted myself to sports such as volleyball and tennis. I applied to several companies during my job search, but ultimately joined Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance (now Sompo Japan). At the time, the company promoted a "family-oriented" approach, treating employees as family, and this corporate culture really came across during my job interview, which was my final deciding factor. Also, at the time, many people were in financial difficulty because they had no insurance in the event of an accident. During that time, I read thank-you letters from customers who said, "I was so relieved to receive my insurance money," and I realized that my job was one that supports people's lives.

■The starting point of our work is "for the customer"

　Throughout my career at the company, I have always believed that work is something that is done for the benefit of customers and society. We do our best to address our customers' real problems and needs, even if it is something that has little to do with insurance. This leads to relationships of trust, which gradually expands into business. So, where is our company at now? I certainly think that direct car insurance meets customers' needs in terms of price. However, if you ask me whether it really allows customers to live with peace of mind, I think there is still a long way to go. More effort is needed, and both our company and the insurance industry as a whole need to change.
　Furthermore, the digital world is constantly evolving. In relation to our industry, digital technology can provide various forms of support in terms of safety, security, and health, but can digital technology solve everything? I think the most important thing to keep in mind when using digital technology is whether it is trustworthy. No matter how much technology advances, in the end it all comes down to people. For insurance companies, building trusting relationships between people at points of contact, such as call centers and accident response departments, will continue to be important.
　Another example would be if there was an issue of whether or not to reduce fatal accidents. After an accident occurs, the important thing is to transport the victim to the hospital as quickly as possible, a race against time. Insurance companies can use past data to determine the extent of danger based on the circumstances under which the accident occurred. For example, let's say there is data that shows that a hit at an angle of ____ degrees is dangerous. Then, when such an accident actually occurs, fatal accidents can be reduced by quickly determining and transporting the victim to a hospital that can provide appropriate treatment. In this way, even in cases that at first glance do not seem to be related to insurance, we believe that solving problems one by one will lead to social contribution.

■The motto is "Follow through with your original intentions"

　I've had many hardships along the way. It was especially tough when I set lofty goals and took on the challenge of doing things my predecessors hadn't been able to do, or when I tried to transform a traditional business model. But no matter how difficult the situation, I always see things through to the end. That's my motto: "Stay true to your original intention." Gritting my teeth and pushing through to the end, I finally see results, and I've always been rewarded with the trust of those around me and praise from my superiors. I believe that even if you want to change something, it often doesn't change through personal passion alone. If you want to change something, you first need to convince those in higher management and get them to understand. From my own experience, this has been extremely important. Of course, when seeking understanding, you need to do more than just talk; you also need to prepare documents and other materials. After that, I think all you have to do is move forward with determination.
　The most enjoyable part of my job is when I see results from the challenges I've worked so hard on. Not only do I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from achieving results, but I also enjoy the fact that my scope of activity is expanding and new paths are opening up, as I make more colleagues, get recognized by my superiors, and am given opportunities to try new things.

■Message

　Once you join a company, time really flies by. When you start working, you will have more responsibilities and you will have to support more people, such as your family. So, don't forget to keep challenging yourself from a young age, even if you fail, so that you don't have any regrets.
　It's also important to make friends. Regardless of gender or age, make lots of friends you can truly trust and who will support you when you're struggling. To do this, it's important to be sincere with others and to help them when they're in trouble. Take care of your health and do your best, students!

Student Newspaper October 2020 Edition Keio University 1st Year Student Miyu Ito