HDI Global announces global growth goals
HDI Global aims to further strengthen its role as a leading corporate & specialty insurer in the new strategy cycle. To achieve this, HDI Global will focus on profitability and drive international expansion while also positioning itself as one of the top employers in the global financial services industry. The new corporate strategy, Xcelerate29, provides the framework for the period 2026 to 2029.
According to the company the new strategy follows a rigorous three-part approach: HDI Global will selectively expand its international footprint, raise excellence in the core business, and focus on being a forward-thinking organisation that promotes learning, collaboration and performance. In line with its name, Xcelerate29 combines “Excellence” and “Accelerate”.
“In recent years, we have consolidated our position as a leading global corporate & specialty insurer through expertise across our entire value chain, reliable services and a partnership-based collaboration with our clients. With Xcelerate29, we are taking our ambition to the next level. We are embedding innovation in our core processes and investing selectively in regions and lines where we create the greatest added value for our clients, brokers, and investors,” said Dr Edgar Puls, chief executive of HDI Global.
As a partner in transformation, with 30 owned entities worldwide and services in more than 175 countries, HDI Global already combines international capabilities with local decision-making. “Our goal is to understand the individual needs of our clients and brokers, develop individual solutions and deliver tangible added value. Not least due to our cross-border expertise, we are one of the world’s five largest providers of managed International Programmes. We will further strengthen this position as part of the new strategy,” Puls added.
Under Xcelerate29, HDI Global will sharpen its international footprint in selected regions and open new markets. A key focus is North America, as well as dynamic growth regions such as South East Asia and the Middle East. “The United States, as the world’s largest insurance market, is a central lever for growth for us,” Puls explained. “Alongside expanding our presence there, we also intend to strengthen our global position in the specialty segment - for example in aviation, crisis management, surety and credit insurance.”
At the same time, HDI Global is focusing on excellence in the core business. Harmonised underwriting and claims standards, supported by data and process discipline, ensure high quality, reliability and sustainable performance. “Our established Underwriting Excellence framework sets clear guardrails for technical quality across all market phases,” Puls noted. “This technical excellence and our consistent underwriting discipline are the foundation for standing by our clients over the long term as a Partner in Transformation.” With a global strategy, HDI Global is continuously advancing its claims management. The focus lies on outstanding claims expertise, smart processes and data‑driven solutions to provide clients with fast, reliable and solution-oriented support in the event of a loss.
As part of the investment excellence initiative, HDI Global will continue to develop its investment function across three core areas: strategic asset allocation, investment operations, and investment governance. “This enables us to further optimise our risk-return profile, strengthen our long-term financial performance and underline our commitment to excellence across the entire value chain,” Puls added.
HDI Global added that it will also establish its position as one of the top global employers in financial services. “Success is driven by people. We will only achieve our ambitious goals if we systematically empower our employees,” said Puls. “That’s why we invest in development, modern working conditions, international career paths and a culture that encourages and recognises innovation and performance.”
The targeted use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will further strengthen the organisation: underwriting and claims processes are being optimised across the value chain - from AI-supported risk analysis and automated document processing to intelligent models enabling faster first notification of loss. “We are currently implementing several AI-supported processes in underwriting and claims. They free up employees’ time for higher-value tasks, accelerate processes, and increase consistency in decisions. Final decisions remain with people, following the motto: human driven – AI powered,” Puls emphasised.
The new strategy builds on a strong starting position. In recent years, HDI Global has established itself as a relevant player in the international Corporate & Specialty insurance market. In 2024, the company surpassed the EUR 10 billion mark in insurance revenue for the first time and significantly increased earnings - with EBIT up 57 per cent year-on-year and a combined ratio of 90.0 per cent. “This gives us strong momentum for the next steps towards 2029 as a globally capable and financially reliable partner,” Puls said.
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