«Sofos Insurance Agency copes with the challenges and demands of the new era", declare Mr. Aristides & Konstantinos Fragkakis, Head of Regional Management Macedonia - Thrace of Sofos Insurance Agency
We have the pleasure of hosting two more representatives of the new generation of insurance intermediaries: they are Mr. Aristides and Konos Fragakis, who continue in their parents' footsteps. Their own occupation, however, did not arise only for reasons... family. the insurance market won them, because they found in it an interesting and profitable object of activity.
Their Office's collaboration with Sofos Insurance Agency began in 2013 and a year later, in 2014, they took over as head of the Regional Directorate of Macedonia - Thrace. In this capacity, they talk to us about the goals and responsibilities they shoulder and about the challenges they face due to the particularities of their region, which they can cope with thanks to the support and innovative solutions offered to them by Sofos Insurance Agency.
Their highest priority, as they state, is the immediate service and satisfaction of their partners' requests, which is for them "fuel", so that they can develop as professionals and as people.
Interview with Sula Korma
What was the motivation and reason for you to become active as an insurance intermediary?
Aristides Fragakis: From an early age we were involved in the insurance market, due to the occupation of our parents. The motivation for employment and our entry into it was the many years of experience and path of our family in this industry, something that we could "translate" as an opportunity for a continuation with our personal contribution and occupation, making use of the infrastructure we inherited from them.
Konstantinos Fragakis: Let me add that what also attracted us to the insurance market was its interesting and profitable subject.
What was the path your Office took until you decided to work with Sofos Insurance Agency?
Konstantinos Fragakis: Until 2013, our Office was the connecting link between the insurance intermediaries of Northern Greece and a large Greek insurance company. our mother, Panagiota Fragakis, our father was also an accountant, Manolis Fragakis, had taken over the vital sector of sales and development, in the largest part of our Region.
Aristides Fragakis: Our father had a long career of 50 years until he retired. Starting his professional activity as an insurance mediator, the first 10 years, and then as a Regional Director, he left us a "heavy" legacy, which we must preserve and develop. His successful course came from developing a good relationship with his entire network of associates, with his constant association and interest in it. Being retired but with 50 years of experience and knowledge, he does not stop guiding us and standing by us in every difficulty we may encounter.
What was it that initially inspired you to cooperate with Sofos Insurance Agency and then to take over the Regional Administration of Macedonia - Thrace?
Aristides Fragakis: In 2013, my brother Konstantinos and I decided together to change course and cooperate with Sofos Insurance Agency. It was a decision that did not hide risks, as Mr. Christos Sofos was known in our family for his ethics, his solvency and his many years of experience in the insurance field. An important role in our decision was also played by the fact that the Sofos Insurance Agency family stood by us during the difficult days we went through and also in our network, being flexible for the improvement of our services as a Region and the continuity of the work we received.
In 2014, our cooperation expanded, as we took over the Regional Directorate of Macedonia - Thrace on behalf of Sofos Insurance Agency. I consider this development of our cooperation very important, as it provided unlimited solutions to the partners we had from before, but at the same time it gave impetus to the development of our personal portfolio. I would say that it is an honor for us to have the trust of Mr. Christos Sofos for the development of the network in North Macedonia-Thrace. It is our duty to show ourselves worthy of his trust.
As a Regional Directorate, what responsibilities do you shoulder and what goals do you have for the development, on the one hand, of your partner network and, on the other hand, the production of insurance premiums?
Aristides Fragakis: I would say that the responsibilities of our Region are varied and multidimensional. Greater than all, however, is the responsibility we have towards our partners, for immediate service and response to their requests. The satisfaction of our partners is "fuel" for us, so that we can develop as professionals and as people. Thus, despite the admittedly unfavorable market situation and, in general, the difficulty of generating new insurance premiums, we manage to develop the network with valuable partners, who also have a previous relationship with our father.
Konstantinos Fragakis: The mutual relationships of trust that we maintain with the pre-existing as well as the new production network are what bring us positive results and very good future prospects. As for competition, or rather healthy competition, as we believe prevails in our region, it is positive and helps us to develop as professionals.
Sofos Insurance Agency has shown a very stable and successful company profile in the insurance industry and seems to cope with the challenges and demands of the new era. Also, the very successful years of cooperation of our parents in combination with all the previous ones creates a climate of security and good cooperation, which is difficult for a new professional to find, during the crisis we are going through.
What are the biggest challenges - difficulties you face, due to the particular local characteristics of your Region? How much does the computerized and administrative support provided by Sofos Insurance Agency contribute to the achievement of your goals?
Aristides Fragakis: The Region because of its size, its geopolitical position, its special and diverse distribution but also because of the many different groups of people in matters of culture and customs, one would say that it represents a challenge for us. The support as well as the innovative solutions offered to us by Sofos Insurance Agency managed to differentiate us on many levels and to adapt to the difficulties of the Region.
We are very happy that the management of the company includes two young people, with visions and goals: Thrasyvoulos and Giorgos Sofos.
Do you have anything to suggest to enhance the level of support and service provided to you by Sofos Insurance Agency?
Aristides Fragakis: What we have to recommend is that it further expands its collaborations with insurance companies, so that all the solutions that a partner requires are provided. It already cooperates with 27 companies covering a wide range of products, but 2-3 more companies might strengthen our work.
How do you envision, on the one hand, the future of your Office and, on the other hand, the future of our insurance market?
Konstantinos Fragakis: The future certainly no one can predict, but our expectations and our visions meet the general philosophy of Sofos Insurance Agency. There are many opportunities presented and even more possibilities that exist and will exist. The market has always had its "ups" and its "downs". People who can adapt to the rhythms of the market can always be promoted and developed.
Aristides Fragakis: Based on the experience of the past – in this particular case our parents –, the excellent partners, the amazing and continuous support of Sofos Insurance Agency, but also the faith we have in our strengths as younger people and with our eyes on the future, I believe that the market still has a lot to offer and I am optimistic for the best.
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