On 29th August 2024, Sanlam and Allianz, the two insurance giants who formed Africa’s largest non-banking financial services company through a joint venture named Sanlam Allianz in 2023, have launched their SanlamAllianz brand in Rwanda at an event hosted in Kigali.

SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Plc (“SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Rwanda”) and SanlamAllianz General Insurance Plc (“Sanlam Allianz General Insurance Rwanda”) are among the first Sanlam Allianz businesses to showcase the joint venture brand. The CEOs of the two businesses are Mr. Jean Chrysostome Hodari, Chief Executive Officer of SanlamAllianz Life Insurance “Rwanda” Plc, and Mr. Richard Akotègnon Hodehou, Chief Executive Officer of SanlamAllianz General Insurance “Rwanda” Plc.

This follows the regulatory approvals received recently, paving the way for these businesses to launch the new branding and trade officially as SanlamAllianz.

SanlamAllianz’s ambition is to leverage its global and Pan-African expertise and unlock growth in Africa’s high-potential economies, in line with its purpose to empower generations to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous. This will be achieved through supporting financial inclusion through innovative and diverse financial services that create shared value for all stakeholders.

SanlamAllianz CEO, Mr. Heinie Werth, said: “Launching the SanlamAllianz brand in Rwanda marks a new milestone for us as well as the broader financial services market and our commitment to do business in Rwanda. It demonstrates our strategy to leverage our emerging markets expertise to create leading businesses in the economies where we choose to operate and supports our intention to enable access to financial services.”

“The joint venture will also leverage the combined economies of scale of our shareholders, Sanlam and Allianz, as well as greater distribution opportunities, shared knowledge, and existing partnerships in telecommunications and banc assurance to benefit our customers,” Mr Werth added.

The chairperson of the Board of Directors of SanlamAllianz Life Insurance “Rwanda” Plc, Dr. Gisanabagabo Sebuhuzu, said: “Our customers have always trusted us as their choice for life insurance. Launching the SanlamAllianz brand in Rwanda gives us more confidence and challenges us to continue serving with excellence.”

The chairperson of the Board of Directors of SanlamAllianz General Insurance “Rwanda” Plc Mr.Vianney Rurangirwa Shumbusho, said: “Being the market leader in general insurance has always been a pleasure. The launch of the SanlamAllianz brand in Rwanda solidifies our position and commitment to continue serving our customers with confidence.”

SanlamAllianz General Insurance “Rwanda” Plc is the leading private insurance company in Rwanda, offering a range of reliable individual and corporate general insurance products. With experience in the Rwandan insurance industry spanning over 40 years, SanlamAllianz General Insurance “Rwanda” Plc is part of SanSanlamAllianz, formed in September 2023 when Sanlam, the largest non-banking financial services company in Africa, and Allianz, one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with more than a century of history in Africa, joined forces to create the largest Pan-African non-banking financial services entity on the continent.