Still room for newcomers in Hong Kong insurance market, says MassMutual Asia
Hong Kong’s insurance market may be crowded, but there is still room for newcomers thanks to Asia’s expanding middle class, particularly in mainland China.
Growing levels of individual wealth have fuelled demand for life insurance and pension products in Hong Kong during the past two decades, according to Tay Keng Puang, managing director and chief executive of MassMutual Asia.
“The market is very competitive as there are many insurance companies in Hong Kong. But we believe offering the right protection and retirement products will always attract clients to buy. This has helped the company to grow well in the past two decades,” Tay said.
Since the handover in 1997, a lot of uncertainties have been removed. That’s been important for overseas companies to invest in Hong Kong
He believes the outlook for the life insurance and retirement industry remains positive because of Asia’s increasing wealth and ageing population.
MassMutual Asia’s roots go back to 1994, Hongkong Chinese Bank and Protective Insurance formed a joint venture called Lippo Protective Life Insurance. It was a small newcomer focused on life insurance and pensions.
US-based insurer MassMutual Financial Group took over the company in 2000 and renamed it MassMutual Asia in a bid to expand in the Asian market.
The insurer has come a long way in the past 20 years. Its sales force has increased in size from 200 at its debut to about 3,000 today.
