Rising stars


“There are a lot of new things coming up all the time and you never do the same things. One example of this is Solvency II.”


Name:


John Melakopidis


Company: Matrix Brokers Job:


Treaty broker


Timeline: April 2011: Treaty broker, Matrix SA


October 2006: Broker, BMS Hellas


November 2005: Broker, BMS International Intermediaries October 2004: Navy


January 2000: Broker, Poseidon (now New Poseidon [NP])


Describe your career so far and current role. My role in Matrix is as treaty broker, ie, handling any treaty account (casualty, property, marine, miscellaneous


accident


on proportional or non-proportional basis) in the areas we are focused, ie, Greece and Cyprus.


Why did you choose the re/insurance industry? My family had a history in the insurance industry (my grandfather had created an insurance company in Greece and my father continued it and still works as an insurance broker), so I initially started in the insurance industry. Then an opportunity appeared for me to work in the reinsurance industry (at reinsurance broker BMS International Intermediaries in London, which was then bought to become BMS Hellas and now renamed to Matrix). I have been at this sector for nine and a half years already.


Do you think the industry is attractive to young


professionals? I believe it is very attractive, since there are a lot of new things coming up all the time and you never do the same things. One example of this is Solvency II.


34 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | May 2015


Do you think the re/insurance industry offers good opportunities and career development to young professionals? Yes, if you work hard, you can develop your career a lot. In that aspect I have to admit that I am lucky being part of Matrix which has grown substantially through the last years.


What are your aspirations for the future? To be recognised as one of the experts of the reinsurance industry.


If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? Maybe on the financial sector, in a hedge fund.


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