Ann Brands www.argenta.be Chief Operating Officer at Argenta Group 33 www.finance-monthly.com • Simple, ‘no frills’ • Clean & honest • Human and close-at-hand • Enterprising and independent • Future-oriented and secure Argenta wants to be a strong and independent bank-insurer with an excellent customer service and lasting relationships with its shareholders, self-employed distribution partners, employees and suppliers. Argenta wants to be a secure and stable bank-insurer with a sound risk and investment policy focused on sustainability. Secure and stable means, in addition to strong capital and liquidity ratios, that the current rapid digitization goes handin-hand with the necessary protection of personal and other data. At Argenta, caring is at the heart of the organisation. It connects us and offers individuality. By consciously embedding it, we are aiming for satisfied customers, happy employees and healthy business results in the long term. Taking responsibility is an integral part of our long-term vision. In Belgium, Argenta wants to be human and close-at-hand through its self-employed distribution partners but also digitally with a range of retail banking and insurance products tailored to individuals and families. Digitizationmakes up a substantial part of this business model. Digitally reliable solutions represent at once a challenge and an opportunity to better fulfil our mission. This must not, though, prevent Argenta from remaining accessible, human and closeat-hand. B E L G I UM Banking Leader of the Year About Marnie Baker Ann Brands became Argenta’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) in November 2016. She is a member of the Board and of the Executive Committees of Argenta Spaarbank nv and Argenta Assuranties nv. Her responsibilities as COO comprise Banking, Savings & Investing, Lending, Insurance, Client Management and Process Excellence. Ann has been active in the financial sector since 1987, first at Aegon Belgium, followed by Delphi Insurance. In 1999 she joined KBC where she went on to occupy various positions, from Head of Claims Department Antwerp to Head of process management Non Life Claims and later to Expert Project manager PMO (Program management office). In 2012 she joined Fidea Insurance. As General Manager IT & Organisation, shewas responsible for long termstrategy andbudget, contract negotiations, infrastructure, software maintenance, project portfolio, process organization and business intelligence. About Argenta Argenta Bank- en Verzekeringsgroep (Argenta Group) provides retail financial services for families in Belgium and the Netherlands, through Argenta Spaarbank (banking) and Argenta Assuranties (insurance). Founded in 1956, Argenta is today Belgian’s fifth largest banking institution by customer deposits, with over 1.7 million customers. Its product offering, focused on simplicity and long-term relationships of trust with its family clients, is built on four pillars: savings, lending, insurance and investments. The group operates in Belgium through an extensive network of local self-employed tied agents. Mission and Vision Argenta wants to assist families and individuals in living financially healthy lives, in a simple, honest and close-at-hand way. Argenta wants to achieve thismissionwith respect for the core values that have marked Argenta’s strategy and corporate culture from the outset:
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