Groupama: From Risk Awareness to Smart Protection. Shaping Romania’s Evolving Insurance Market
As Romania’s insurance market enters a more mature phase, shaped by consolidation, insurers are increasingly expected to act not only as risk carriers, but as long-term partners in resilience and prevention. In this interview for CES Bucharest, Călin Matei, CEO of Groupama Romania, outlines how demand for corporate insurance is evolving, which sectors are driving growth and how sustainability, digitalization and innovation with purpose are redefining the role of insurance in the economy.
Groupama is the leading insurance group in Romania, with a strong presence across non-life, health and life insurance and a solid footprint in both retail and corporate segments. In 2025, the company played a central role in supporting Romanian businesses as they navigated climate-related risks and operational disruptions , while also setting benchmarks for customer experience, claims efficiency and ESG performance in the local market.
Groupama executive explains why Romanian companies are increasingly viewing insurance as a strategic necessity rather than a cost, highlights the growing demand for property, fleet, health and business interruption coverage and details how Groupama is adapting its product portfolio to climate change and complex supply-chain risks. Read more below about the company’s ESG commitments, its A.I. Integration and Groupama’s long-term ambition to act as a responsible, innovative and trusted pillar of a more resilient insurance market in Romania and the wider region.
Demand for insurance evolution among Romanian companies in recent years. Segments generating growth
The insurance market in Romania today is maturing after a period of consolidation. We are working with a mix of growth potential and ongoing challenges, which are constantly testing our agility and resilience. We are becoming more confident and stable, yet we face constant pressure from climate-related risks or economic uncertainties.
Companies in Romania are becoming more and more aware of the fact that insurance is an absolutely necessary tool for the well-being of their business, so we are looking at a growing interest for insurance products. MTPL and CASCO insurance for car fleets, building and property insurance, equipment and machinery insurance and health insurance for employees are just some of the business lines that have caught the attention of companies and business owners, in various industries, from transport, to commerce, tourism or construction.
A study conducted this year by CNIPMMR, shows a particular increase in interest for health and life insurance products, which indicates a growing attention to the well-being of employees and to prevention, an encouraging outlook for our industry.
Corporate portfolio adaptation in a growing risk context
If we only take a look at the natural disasters that have affected our country since the beginning of the year, like floods, storms, hail or landslides, they have generated insurance compensation of over 45 millions of lei for our clients and partners, both individuals and companies, in the first 9 months of 2025. Thousands of claims have been filed and the material and emotional losses in the affected areas are significant and irrecoverable.
Our mission, to help our clients and partners approach life with optimism and enjoy every moment, knowing that we will stand by their side in the face of challenges, becomes more and more relevant in this context. We stand for quality at the correct price and deliver simple and predictable services, with empathy. We also believe in the power on innovation, as long as it delivers true value for the clients or our team. Within this context we are integrating AI into our development strategy.
Therefore, in response to the growing risks faced by businesses and the challenges posed by climate change, we are proactively adapting our product portfolio to meet the evolving needs of companies – from customized risk management solutions, to a strong coverage of business interruption insurance, and supply chain protection, as well as enhanced health and life insurance products for employees. We are also the first insurer in Romania to introduce a Collection of advantages, a set of promises and guarantees for our clients, including companies.
For example, in case of a risk covered by the Building and Property Insurance, the client will receive a 30% advance payment of the compensation within a maximum of 3 days after notifying the claim and claim assessment in done within 72 hours. Moreover, for claims up to 10.000 lei, related to Fire and Other Disasters policy or SMEs Insurance, the money are transferred within 72 hours after the client’s approval, therefor minimizing the risk of business interruption.
Since prevention is such an important topic for us, farmers receive a monthly forecast and agrometeorological forecast, information that helps them make the best decisions for their work.
Integrating ESG in business strategy, product development and internal operations
We take actions to create a balanced blend of ethical conduct, environmental concern, social responsibility and financial stability, which together contribute to a sustainable future for our teams, clients, partners and the broader community.
We have set ambitious goals to reduce our impact – for example, in 2024 we had reduced our carbon footprint with 44% compared to 2019 (Scope 1 and 2 emissions market-based), we are aligned to the latest reporting standards – our 2024 Sustainbility Report got the 2nd Highest Scoring in CST Index, being the only insurance company included in the Index, we support prevention, a natural thing for us as an insurer, so we get involved in projects that promote risk prevention, encourage a healthy lifestyle and improve the lives of communities.
Our focus is on adapting our products so that they reflect sustainability principles. Consumers understand that sustainable practices are often linked to long-term financial stability. Insurance companies that prioritize climate resilience, responsible investment and sustainable risk management are seen as better equipped to handle future risks, especially in the face of climate change and economic shifts. And these values are becoming critical decision-making factors when choosing products and services, including insurance.
Role in creating a resilient, sustainable and innovative insurance market in Romania and the region
Romania still has a series of gaps to catch up with, even in relation to the countries of Central Eastern Europe and this also tells us something about the way we relate to risk. The potential, however, is significant, but it takes time for it to develop, which is normal. We see a positive trend, especially among young people, mainly those from urban areas, who are becoming more aware of risks and more open to prevention.
At Groupama, we are committed to ensuring that our clients have a partner to rely on when facing the unexpected. We will continue to innovate in ways that truly matter for our customers, just as we have done so far with so many services introduced for the first time on the market, like Telematics CASCO, IntreabaMedic service,which connects the client with specialist doctors to receive medical advice remotely, using the most accessible communication platforms such as WhatsApp or SMS, or Video Asist, a simple and fast way to carry out risk inspections and damage assessments via video assistance. The client only needs a mobile phone with internet access and, through the app, they can connect live with a Groupama agent, thus shortening the path from problem to solution.
Our role will remain the same – a responsible actor, an empathetic and trustworthy partner for the client and an early adaptor of innovation with a purpose.
Digitalization and use of data and tech in business operations
We have always believed in innovation with a purpose and in using technology in the benefit of our stakeholders.
Currently, Groupama is integrating artificial intelligence into a number of internally developed processes and use cases with the help of Google consultants, creating a positive impact both for the team and the clients or partners. Among these there is a tool which enables quicker generation of CASCO offers, with 97% of the offers currently being issued through a dedicated platform, reducing the time from request to offer by up to 70%.
Another major focus has been improving the customer experience by providing faster responses to requests, while maintaining the quality standard that Groupama’s clients are accustomed to. The goal of the project was to reduce the document processing time with AI enhancing the work of the teams, ensuring that information accuracy remains at the highest level. In the first month of implementation, a 40% reduction in response time for clients and a 50% reduction in the time allocated for document verification was observed compared to the period before the project.
Additionally, our company uses interactive voice response systems capable of understanding intent, anticipating needs, and routing clients to the appropriate operator. Each month, over 1,000 clients interacting with the AloGroupama service resolve their requests directly through interactions with artificial intelligence, helping maintain a customer satisfaction rate of over 95%, measured after each interaction. Also aiming to reduce wait times and simplify client interaction with our products and services, we are developing projects for rapid processing of documents in health insurance claims, fast refunding of RCA premiums, tools or virtual assistance available to the Groupama team for the swift issuance of Fire and Natural disaster insurance, and more.
All of this would not be possible without our dedicated a professional team, which enhances technology with their unique human and empathetic touch.
