Get to know your insurer partner in Central and Eastern Europe

Who we are

Colonnade is a new insurance brand on the market, and we have become successful in a short time by providing innovative and tailored to fit insurance solutions across the CEE Region. 

We run an efficient, well-organized network of operations in Hungary as well as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and in Ukraine (through our subsidiary).

Our success is based on the many experienced professionals who work for us and deliver first class customer service to all our customers, thanks to their knowledge of the market and their expertise in the field of insurance.

Our products

Consumer
  • Travel insurance
  • Home insurance
  • Accident & Health insurance
  • GAP insurance
Commercial
  • Liability insurances
  • Contractor's all risk insurance
  • Property insurance
  • Cyber liability insurance

... and more

A.M. Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) to Colonnade Insurance S.A. (Luxembourg) www.ambest.com

About Colonnade Insurance in Central Europe

Colonnade Insurance S.A. (Colonnade) is a Luxembourg based non-life insurance company fully owned by Fairfax and established for a strategic expansion of the Fairfax insurance business in Central and Eastern Europe.

We are licensed to underwrite 17 of the 18 statutory classes of non-life Insurance (except Class 10 – Motor Vehicle Liability). Our licenses are extended to Freedom of Services for all EU member states. The company currently maintains and forecasts the maintenance of a strong solvency ratio, well above the required levels. Colonnade is supported by leading global reinsurers with strongest financial security led by, among others, Swiss Re, Hanover Re, Munich Re, BRIT, AWAC, Lloyd’s syndicate, AIG.

We operate through branches in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and a subsidiary in Ukraine with the help of a team of more than 450 experienced specialists. We offer products for consumer and corporate clients and have an A- financial strength rating for three years. Our registered capital is EUR 9 500 000.

Branches operate on a decentralized basis but having strong internal culture where market practice leaders share their expertise cross-branch. The empowered underwriting teams apply a focused underwriting strategy to their markets.

Executive management

  • Peter Csakvari - General Manager
  • John Ockenden - Chief Actuary and Chief Risk Officer
  • Andras Sellyei - Chief Financial Officer
  • Babette Chambre - Head of Compliance
  • Julien Immelé - Head of Internal Audit

Board of directors

  • Bijan Khosrowshahi - Chairman, Executive Director
  • Jean Cloutier - Board Member
  • Frederick Gabriel - Board Member
  • Leo de Waal - Board Member
  • Marnix Ernst Wielenga - Board Member

About Fairfax

We are Colonnade – an insurance company, a member of the Canadian group Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries,is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investmentmanagement. Fairfax’s corporate objective is to achieve a high rate of return oninvested capital and build long‐term shareholder value. Fairfax seeks to differentiateitself by combining disciplined underwriting with the investment of its assets on a totalreturn basis, which Fairfax believes provides above‐average returns over the long-turn.

Fairfax was founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Prem Watsa. The company has been under present management since 1985 and isheadquartered in Toronto, Canada. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FFH and in U.S. dollars under the symbol FFH.U.

Fairfax’s insurance and reinsurance companies operate on a decentralized basis, with autonomous management teams applying a focused underwriting strategy to theirmarkets. Fairfax subsidiaries provide a full range of property and casualty products,maintaining a diversified portfolio of risks across all classes of business, geographicregions, and types of insureds.

Fairfax’s grosspremium written (year ended December 31, 2020) $ 21,5 bn.

What we care about

  • We play fair and work hard.
  • We work closely with our clients.
  • We work to make a living and we enjoy what we do.

We believe in...

  • Honesty and integrity are essential in all our relationships and will never be compromised.
  • We are results oriented ‐ not political.
  • We are team players – no “egos”. A confrontational style is not appropriate.We value loyalty ‐ to Fairfax and our colleagues.
  • We are hard working but not at the expense of our families.
  • We always look at opportunities but emphasize downside protection andlook for ways to minimize loss of capital.
  • We are entrepreneurial. We encourage calculated risk taking. It is all rightto fail but we should learn from our mistakes.
  • We will never bet the company on any project or acquisition.
  • We believe in having fun ‐ at work!