Interview: Edmund Santiago, Chairman and CEO of Redbridge Holdings
We spoke to Edmund Santiago, Chairman and CEO of Redbridge Holdings, about new technology, challenges for the industry, and plans for the future
What do you enjoy most about your role, and what are the biggest challenges you face?
As Chairman and CEO of Redbridge, what really gratifies me is the fulfillment derived from steering our company strategically, achieving milestones, fostering innovation, and at the same time addressing the multi-faceted challenges we confront.
These challenges stretch across accelerating technological trends, climate change impacts, regulatory dynamics, competition, evolving customer demands, and an array of global risks beyond the 2023 horizon.
How has Redbridge used new technology to assist clients and agents, and what plans are there to develop these kinds of services in the future?
Accelerating technology trends are certain to transform the very nature of insurance, and I truly believe innovating our offerings will become mainstream in the next decade.
Redbridge has been evolving through the years in the anticipation of digital technology by automating processes and providing agents with the right tools to make their work more effective, as well as expanding coverage and catering to our clients’ current and future needs.
Currently, our primary focus is on the development of new technologies and digital services that will readily provide appropriate care, timely assistance, information, and facilitate effective communication between us, our agents and clients.
How is Redbridge Assist adapting to ensure its longevity into the future?
In my opinion, there are many ingredients that need to be present for any company to adapt and ensure its longevity into the future. But the paramount importance lies in our capability to swiftly adapt and provide astute leadership within the company during this ever-evolving landscape.
By remaining adaptable and encouraging a culture of innovation, Redbridge Assist has definitely allowed us to stay ahead of the curve. Sound financial management and diversifying our revenue sources has given us stability and cushion during market fluctuations. Ultimately building a strong cash reserve and embracing technology has significantly enhanced our resilience and competitiveness to ensure our longevity in the industry.
What are the biggest challenges facing the international assistance industry at the present time?
As everyone is aware, the international assistance industry, like most businesses, has faced several significant challenges in the past few years. At the present time, we have successfully been able to surpass many of them, but new ones have emerged to take their place. Inflation, political and geopolitical instability, natural disasters, climate change, regulatory compliance, and changing demographics are among the current ones at the forefront of our industry, which we are diligently addressing. But as I often say: “We need to view these challenges as new opportunities.”
What guidance, advice or other services do you provide to clients to improve their general safety on international trips?
As an international assistance service provider, we have taken our slogan ‘No matter what, Redbridge assures your peace of mind,’ very seriously. This commitment has driven us to create a global awareness campaign informing and enhancing the overall safety of our clients during their international trips. Our objective is to raise their awareness of healthcare safety measures everywhere they go. Consequently, this approach has influenced our advice, safety precautions and the availability of assistance services in accordance with the conditions of every region.
How have the geopolitical challenges of recent years, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, affected how you operate – if at all?
I would be lying if I said that the geopolitical challenges of recent years have not affected our industry and how we operate. Like many other businesses, we have experienced their impact in various ways. First, the Covid-19 pandemic led to disruptions in our supply chain and forced us to work remotely. Then, political uncertainties in certain regions influenced market strategies and expansion plans.
However, I am a believer that challenges never come alone, and in this case, it came with great opportunities to innovate and become more adaptable as a company. The experiences we went through, especially in recent years, has pushed us to become resilient, diversify our supply base and reevaluate strategies.