The NART Risk Management Forum convened on September 20th. NART Sigorta Brokerliği ve Reasürans Brokerliği A.Ş., a member of a group, which is the largest independent insurance and reinsurance brokerage group in Turkey and the 4th largest in the world, celebrated the 6th anniversary of its foundation on September 20th, Tuesday, with an international NART Risk Management Forum and a cocktail party.

310 participants from 15 countries in 4 continents attended the forum. The event was supported by TÜSİAD, TÜGİAD, the Union of Turkish Insurance and Reinsurance Companies and the Chamber of Industry of Istanbul and hosted by the Turkish – French Trade Association and the Turkish – German Chamber of Trade and Industry. Ak Sigorta, Gerling Konzern, Güneş Sigorta and İsviçre Sigorta sponsored the convention. Among the institutions supporting the convention were Milli Reasürans, Münich RE and Aviva Sigorta.

The Nart Risk Management Forum 2005 was organized in the form of two sessions: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Mr. Ahmet Genç, General Director of the Directorate of Insurance Affairs of the Under-secretariat of Treasury of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey and Mr. Levent Nart, chairman of the board of directors of Nart Sigorta ve Reasürans Brokerliği A.Ş., made their respective inauguration speeches. Afterwards, at the 1st session of the forum, the participants deliberated over the developments in Europe and in Turkey and the methods regarding the management of the liabilities arising from professional faults of professionals such as architects, fiscal advisors, lawyers, medical doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals.

In his inauguration speech, Mr. Ahmet Genç talked about the professional liability risks, which may arise from the fast growing trend of consumers’ protection and changing technological standards in the process of globalization, and the methods of protection. He stressed the appropriateness of the timing of such a forum focusing on the management of professional liability risks. He said that he found worthy of praise such a science-based convention in which international experts gave lectures. Mr. Genç also gave information to the participants about the preparations of the general directorate of insurance affairs regarding the professional liability insurance.

Mr. Levent Nart said, in his inauguration speech, that the importance attached to the consumers’ protection had been increasing in all developed economies as well as in Turkey and that, in line with that development, the amounts of claims against professionals and manufacturers had increased due to the amendments to the legislation and regulations in favor of users and consumers and that, as a response, better protection measures should be provided through technical and legal ways as well as new insurance products.

Associate Prof. Dr. Kerim F. Atamer of the Istanbul Bilgi University made a speech on the New Developments in the Turkish Law Regarding Professional Liability Insurance. Harald Etzdorf, attorney-at-law, an expert executive of Munich RE, and Harmut Reiner made speeches on the Management of Professional Liability Risks in the World and in Europe. During the discussion section of the convention, in addition to the speeches of the guests, Mr. Mehmet Bozkurt, advisor for the Chamber of Architects of Turkey, communicated to the participants the expectations of architects regarding the management of professional liability risks.

At the second session in the afternoon, the subject was one of the most serious risks threatening businesses: the Product liability risks, and the methods of protection. Mr. Turgay Kıran, President of the Turkish – French Trade Association and Ms. Ümmühan Dericioğlu, representing Mr. Selim Demiren, President of the Turkish – German Chamber of Trade and Industry, made inauguration speeches. Mr. Levent Nart made a presentation on Product Liability Risks and Methods of Protection in the World and in Turkey. Mr. Andy Challoner, Manager of General Risk Management of Aviva Sigorta, made a presentation on the Assessment and Management of Product Liability Risks in the Manufacturing Industry from the point of view of the British Market. Mr. Richard Pollack, Head of the Department of International Liability Damages of Gerling, made a presentation on the Management of Product Liabilities in the Car Manufacturing Industry, Car Manufacturing Suppliers’ Industry and Machinery Manufacturing Industry.

During the discussion section of the convention, Mr. Levent Nart stressed the fact that research had revealed that businesses and professionals devastated by claims of compensation for damages due to faulty products or services very often suffered from serious liquidity problems and went bankrupt or considerably shrank soon afterwards.

Mr. Levent Nart explained that experience, expertise and vision were needed to understand and control risk and to command it in line with strategic goals and that brokers had this experience and that manufacturers should benefit more from these services. 

At the final section of the forum, a discussion session took place during which Messrs. Andy Challoner, Harald Etzdorf, Richard Pollack, Prof. Dr. Samim Ünan and Levent Nart were on the stage. The subject was the Respective Roles Played by the Customer, the Insurer and the Broker in the Management of Product Liability Risks. 

The NART Risk Management Forum 2005, as an international risk management convention, was a success with participants from over 15 countries.

After the forum, a cocktail party was given to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the foundation of Nart Sigorta ve Reasürans Brokerliği A.Ş..