Access America 2009 Annual Report Download - page 25

EUROPE,
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
Despite extremely challenging conditions,
EMEA experienced growth and overall strong
performances in 2009. Depending on market
specifi cs and maturity, our business units focused
on diversifi cation, building e-commerce, IT
investments, implementing best cost containment
measures and improving our carbon footprint.
Innovation was at the heart of the region’s success.
$XVWULD6(( SEE hub
weathers crisis with excellent
performance
Despite the unfavourable business
environment, our Austrian business
unit achieved a solid 2.7% (in EUR)
increase in revenues. With its
geographical expansion towards
SEE (South Eastern Europe),
our Austrian entity further established
itself as a regional hub, serving more
than 10 countries. In 2009 travel
and roadside assistance remained
the dominant lines of business.
%HOJLXP diversifi cation
generates strong growth
Our Belgian business unit continued its
development during 2009 with a record
growth in revenues and improved
profi tability. We formed a new lifecare
partnership with an HR services
company, and enjoyed signifi cant overall
growth within the healthcare sector.
The business unit has now established
its credibility in the pharmaceutical
sector and is proud of its portfolio
of solid references. In addition, a new
win with a major automotive client
further reinforced positive turnover.
And once again we demonstrated
commercial creativity and dynamism
through a sales promotion campaign
that focused on a key annual product
and brought together more than
200 major clients.
&]HFK6ORYDN
5HSXEOLFV success despite
tough market conditions
Our business unit in Prague began
its second decade of successful
collaboration with Allianz Prague and
Allianz-Slovenska Poistovna Bratislava.
With group support, we signifi cantly
enlarged our customer portfolio in
assistance services and travel
insurance, and secured several major
new contracts in vehicle assistance. We
also won an international tender for the
KBC Group for which our Prague entity
now coordinates KBC presence
throughout Central and Eastern
Europe. These and other focused
business acquisition efforts helped
mitigate the negative impact of the
year’s economic crisis. Our Czech
entity also completed its TOM (target
operating model) targets to fully align
its organisation with the group’s
standards.
)UDQFH commercial success
and innovations in 2009
Our French business unit posted strong
results in 2009, despite the declining
economy. Turnover was up by 9.1%, the
result of signifi cant commercial initiatives
and actions across all sectors. Teams
successfully developed portfolios with
major accounts across all business lines,
and enjoyed many contract renewals with
top players. Our French entity signed a
partnership agreement with a leading
Japanese automotive manufacturer.
Our healthcare and energy solutions won
the attention of new clients as well, and
we were awarded with new agreements
with sports equipment distributors and
several camping networks. Growth
continued with additions to our portfolio
of mutual insurance companies.
Tourism online (excl. B2C) grew
by 27.3% in 2009, a trend that should
continue with the launch of France’s new,
more user-friendly website in 2010.
Innovation was high on the agenda.
We launched “MIRA Mobile”, a mobile
version of our electronic missioning
system for service providers, as well as
a telephone for female victims of violence.
Our French business unit launched
67%
OF GROUP
TURNOVER
ANNUAL REPORT 2009 / Mondial Assistance 21