Business people share 2010 expectations
We asked the following: How would you characterize 2009 from a business standpoint? What has been the biggest challenge for your company/bank this year? What are your company’s main objectives for 2010?
Ciprian Barang, National Sales & Marketing Manager, Epson Romania and Bulgaria
The year 2009 was a challenging one for the IT market, with major changes in terms of business strategies and sales messages. This year, all brands have focused on promoting equipment that is able to generate cost savings in a quality-price ratio profitable to customers.
The most important challenge in 2009 was to achieve a market-share increase despite the contextual decrease in absorption capacity of the Romanian market. We are happy to confirm that we have reached our goal.
For 2010 the main objectives will be to maintain our leadership position in market segments where Epson is dominating, such as the projector and Dot Matrix segments, and to achieve sales growth for our entire product ranges, all within the context of a market that we hope will regain its upward trend.
Ariana Badin, PR & Communication Manager, UPC
With the latest new product introductions, ranging from high definition television to our Free Internet offer, we have a complete package for our customers. In Q3 2009 we registered over 200,000 digital TV subscribers, positioning ourselves as a market leader in the digital TV segment. We have also launched an HDTV service – as part of our digital platform – which will definitely support our growth in the segment. With a total of 3,000 subscriptions in just one month since launching the service, HDTV has attracted a considerable number of new clients, so that 16 per cent of HD subscribers are new UPC clients. In a very short period sales overcame our initial expectations, confirming that the market was ready for the new HDTV service and that its launch date had been wisely chosen. We are optimistic about the sales evolution in the segment by the end of the year, considering our clients’ high interest in the service, and given the fact that UPC is the only provider offering high definition TV service at a national level and at an accessible price. As of September 30, 2009, the voice services are at 144,500 subscribers. Moreover, we are in a leadership position on phone numbers portability, according ANCOM official data from October 2009, which shows that UPC holds over 22,582 ported phone numbers, or 44 per cent of the total numbers. This confirms that UPC represents a strong alternative to the traditional operator. As well, we now have over 256,400 internet subscriptions, which is up 14 per cent compared to Q3 2008.
We are extremely excited that all products are growing and that we have product leadership in the market. UPC has maintained its leadership in technology and innovation by launching new services such as digital TV, DVR and HD TV, and by constantly improving its channel offering. At the same time, it is UPC’s vision to open up the digital world for everyone. In this respect we continually come up with new products and campaigns to meet the communication and information needs of an ever-larger number of clients, offering them added-value service packages.
The telecom market is dynamic and will develop further. New products will continue to be launched on the market, but to what extent depends on the market and the operators. UPC’s near-term strategy is to focus on its existing network and customer base. TV service is being revolutionized by new developments (DTV, DVR, HD) and therefore a huge market potential has been activated. Our internet service is also under development, and product upgrades in terms of speeds will also trigger market development. UPC Broadband has begun to launch speeds of up to 120 Mbps, which enables us to offer better services to our customers and to compete with the service performance offered by providers of DSL and fiber optics to the home.
Cristina Popescu, Public Relations Manager, Romtelecom
In 2009 we continued to execute our strategy to reposition the company as a multi-services entertainer on the Romanian market. Specifically, we concentrated on growth within the newer emerging market segments, such as data, broadband and television, while also focusing on safeguarding our traditional business. This is a priority for Romtelecom, as it represents one of the solutions to protect the company’s current level of profitability and liquidity. The outcomes of this effort are a seven per cent increase in Romtelecom’s total revenue-generating units compared to the same period last year (4.4 million RGUs at end of Q3 2009 vs. 4.1 million RGUs at the end of Q3 2008). Moreover, xDSL subscriptions surpassed 750,000 (a 32 per cent increase over Q3 2008) and television subscriptions reached 831,000 (a 49 per cent increase over the same quarter last year), while net line churn for Q3 2009 was contained to two per cent.
Regarding strategic business movements on the market, in April we launched the mobile broadband based on the CDMA technology, which the company uses to supplement our existing products portfolio (especially mobile broadband and voice-and-broadband in locations not covered by the fixed line network). We’ll continue our development plans, leaving our customers to experience what these services can do for them. Moreover, we are heavily investing in new technologies, which allow faster speeds, such as VDSL, enabling us to capture as much demand as possible from the broadband and data market. We plan to launch the IPTV service in the very near future, and have already begun to test the service in selected areas.
The biggest challenges for our company in 2009 included reducing costs as much as possible, keeping the revenues as stable as possible, and devising the most appropriate offers for our customers. The impact of the economic downturn is reflected in decreasing revenues compared to last year. The lower revenues have required greater efforts in controlling the costs base of the company; consequently, we have achieved the desired result of maintaining approximately the same profitability rate despite the worse economic conditions.
In 2010 our main objectives include increasing internal efficiency, rigorously controlling costs and designing attractive commercial offers. Since last year, these have become objectives to be followed constantly by Romtelecom. In 2010 we will continue to focus on consolidating the position of the company within growing market segments such as broadband internet, data and TV services, while introducing appealing proposals for fixed voice service.
Shah Rouf, CEO, Aviva
The first half of 2009 fetched positive results for Aviva (while most companies recorded losses and the life insurance market as a whole contracted) and we hope to maintain that growth by the end of the year.
Unfortunately, most clients view life insurance products as optional expenses. Their perception and understanding of such products is reflected in the volume of sales. Even though the decline in the volume of subscribed premiums in the life insurance segment was already predictable at the end of 2008, we are expecting a recovery in 2010.
As people are become increasingly aware of the importance of saving and personal protection during difficult times in life, they will tend to use these financial services more and more. The need for insurance against risks has always been present, and perhaps in the current volatile economic context everyone should give serious consideration to the issue.
The arrival of new players in the life insurance segment confirms the great potential of the Romanian market, which will lead to a gradual consolidation of life insurance offers. We will witness new arrivals, potential mergers and acquisitions – normal developments for any mature market. Clients will be the prime beneficiaries of all these changes. They will have access to a wider range of insurance products and services, adapted to their specific needs. And the most important gain for the market will be represented by the increased awareness of the Romanian public. A market with more competitors will have a greater influence on the development of the life insurance segment in , which is less developed in comparison to other markets in central and eastern Europe.
Objectives for 2010? Let’s not forget what we have learned in the last 18 months: make no compromise when it comes to the quality of products and choose the simplest way forward.
I am proud to work for a company that in these difficult times has proven its solid financial position and integrity. It is one of the few organizations that has not needed financial assistance from the government or any other authorities, while in the first half of the year it posted a profit of nearly one billion Euro.
Sanziana Maioreanu, CEO, Signal Iduna
I believe the phrase that best defines 2009 is “real value for money.” We have all witnessed it, whether we are referring to personal and corporate investments and even daily expenses. Year 2009 has been a very interesting one for the insurance market. After a long period characterized by growth rates reaching up to double digits, in 2009 the market placed itself on a more solid basis, with companies seeking to identify priorities more carefully and to analyze closely their real needs.
This year we have witnessed the stabilization of the human resources market, which has had an immediate impact on the benefit packages companies offer to their employees. Thus, group insurance products were among the benefits that many companies decided to freeze or even annul. In the healthcare segment, and especially in the private health insurance segment, unfortunately I must say that we have taken several steps back due to the old shortcomings of the public healthcare system. The public was able to see how political influence was mirrored in the reforms of the healthcare system.
The biggest challenge for us in 2009 has been to maintain our shareholders’ interest for despite the negative economic and political signals.
Our main objective for next year focuses on identifying growth prospects similar to those that originally triggered our company’s decision to enter this market. We are planning to adapt our offer to the new client profile so that we can provide insurance solutions for every family in . We will also continue to contribute actively to educating the market on the importance of life insurance and especially private health insurance. At the same time we will be involved in supporting reforms in the healthcare system, one of the few economic sectors with real growth potential.
Ciprian Barang, National Sales & Marketing Manager, Epson Romania and Bulgaria
The year 2009 was a challenging one for the IT market, with major changes in terms of business strategies and sales messages. This year, all brands have focused on promoting equipment that is able to generate cost savings in a quality-price ratio profitable to customers.
The most important challenge in 2009 was to achieve a market-share increase despite the contextual decrease in absorption capacity of the Romanian market. We are happy to confirm that we have reached our goal.
For 2010 the main objectives will be to maintain our leadership position in market segments where Epson is dominating, such as the projector and Dot Matrix segments, and to achieve sales growth for our entire product ranges, all within the context of a market that we hope will regain its upward trend.
Ariana Badin, PR & Communication Manager, UPC
With the latest new product introductions, ranging from high definition television to our Free Internet offer, we have a complete package for our customers. In Q3 2009 we registered over 200,000 digital TV subscribers, positioning ourselves as a market leader in the digital TV segment. We have also launched an HDTV service – as part of our digital platform – which will definitely support our growth in the segment. With a total of 3,000 subscriptions in just one month since launching the service, HDTV has attracted a considerable number of new clients, so that 16 per cent of HD subscribers are new UPC clients. In a very short period sales overcame our initial expectations, confirming that the market was ready for the new HDTV service and that its launch date had been wisely chosen. We are optimistic about the sales evolution in the segment by the end of the year, considering our clients’ high interest in the service, and given the fact that UPC is the only provider offering high definition TV service at a national level and at an accessible price. As of September 30, 2009, the voice services are at 144,500 subscribers. Moreover, we are in a leadership position on phone numbers portability, according ANCOM official data from October 2009, which shows that UPC holds over 22,582 ported phone numbers, or 44 per cent of the total numbers. This confirms that UPC represents a strong alternative to the traditional operator. As well, we now have over 256,400 internet subscriptions, which is up 14 per cent compared to Q3 2008.
We are extremely excited that all products are growing and that we have product leadership in the market. UPC has maintained its leadership in technology and innovation by launching new services such as digital TV, DVR and HD TV, and by constantly improving its channel offering. At the same time, it is UPC’s vision to open up the digital world for everyone. In this respect we continually come up with new products and campaigns to meet the communication and information needs of an ever-larger number of clients, offering them added-value service packages.
The telecom market is dynamic and will develop further. New products will continue to be launched on the market, but to what extent depends on the market and the operators. UPC’s near-term strategy is to focus on its existing network and customer base. TV service is being revolutionized by new developments (DTV, DVR, HD) and therefore a huge market potential has been activated. Our internet service is also under development, and product upgrades in terms of speeds will also trigger market development. UPC Broadband has begun to launch speeds of up to 120 Mbps, which enables us to offer better services to our customers and to compete with the service performance offered by providers of DSL and fiber optics to the home.
Cristina Popescu, Public Relations Manager, Romtelecom
In 2009 we continued to execute our strategy to reposition the company as a multi-services entertainer on the Romanian market. Specifically, we concentrated on growth within the newer emerging market segments, such as data, broadband and television, while also focusing on safeguarding our traditional business. This is a priority for Romtelecom, as it represents one of the solutions to protect the company’s current level of profitability and liquidity. The outcomes of this effort are a seven per cent increase in Romtelecom’s total revenue-generating units compared to the same period last year (4.4 million RGUs at end of Q3 2009 vs. 4.1 million RGUs at the end of Q3 2008). Moreover, xDSL subscriptions surpassed 750,000 (a 32 per cent increase over Q3 2008) and television subscriptions reached 831,000 (a 49 per cent increase over the same quarter last year), while net line churn for Q3 2009 was contained to two per cent.
Regarding strategic business movements on the market, in April we launched the mobile broadband based on the CDMA technology, which the company uses to supplement our existing products portfolio (especially mobile broadband and voice-and-broadband in locations not covered by the fixed line network). We’ll continue our development plans, leaving our customers to experience what these services can do for them. Moreover, we are heavily investing in new technologies, which allow faster speeds, such as VDSL, enabling us to capture as much demand as possible from the broadband and data market. We plan to launch the IPTV service in the very near future, and have already begun to test the service in selected areas.
The biggest challenges for our company in 2009 included reducing costs as much as possible, keeping the revenues as stable as possible, and devising the most appropriate offers for our customers. The impact of the economic downturn is reflected in decreasing revenues compared to last year. The lower revenues have required greater efforts in controlling the costs base of the company; consequently, we have achieved the desired result of maintaining approximately the same profitability rate despite the worse economic conditions.
In 2010 our main objectives include increasing internal efficiency, rigorously controlling costs and designing attractive commercial offers. Since last year, these have become objectives to be followed constantly by Romtelecom. In 2010 we will continue to focus on consolidating the position of the company within growing market segments such as broadband internet, data and TV services, while introducing appealing proposals for fixed voice service.
Shah Rouf, CEO, Aviva
The first half of 2009 fetched positive results for Aviva (while most companies recorded losses and the life insurance market as a whole contracted) and we hope to maintain that growth by the end of the year.
Unfortunately, most clients view life insurance products as optional expenses. Their perception and understanding of such products is reflected in the volume of sales. Even though the decline in the volume of subscribed premiums in the life insurance segment was already predictable at the end of 2008, we are expecting a recovery in 2010.
As people are become increasingly aware of the importance of saving and personal protection during difficult times in life, they will tend to use these financial services more and more. The need for insurance against risks has always been present, and perhaps in the current volatile economic context everyone should give serious consideration to the issue.
The arrival of new players in the life insurance segment confirms the great potential of the Romanian market, which will lead to a gradual consolidation of life insurance offers. We will witness new arrivals, potential mergers and acquisitions – normal developments for any mature market. Clients will be the prime beneficiaries of all these changes. They will have access to a wider range of insurance products and services, adapted to their specific needs. And the most important gain for the market will be represented by the increased awareness of the Romanian public. A market with more competitors will have a greater influence on the development of the life insurance segment in , which is less developed in comparison to other markets in central and eastern Europe.
Objectives for 2010? Let’s not forget what we have learned in the last 18 months: make no compromise when it comes to the quality of products and choose the simplest way forward.
I am proud to work for a company that in these difficult times has proven its solid financial position and integrity. It is one of the few organizations that has not needed financial assistance from the government or any other authorities, while in the first half of the year it posted a profit of nearly one billion Euro.
Sanziana Maioreanu, CEO, Signal Iduna
I believe the phrase that best defines 2009 is “real value for money.” We have all witnessed it, whether we are referring to personal and corporate investments and even daily expenses. Year 2009 has been a very interesting one for the insurance market. After a long period characterized by growth rates reaching up to double digits, in 2009 the market placed itself on a more solid basis, with companies seeking to identify priorities more carefully and to analyze closely their real needs.
This year we have witnessed the stabilization of the human resources market, which has had an immediate impact on the benefit packages companies offer to their employees. Thus, group insurance products were among the benefits that many companies decided to freeze or even annul. In the healthcare segment, and especially in the private health insurance segment, unfortunately I must say that we have taken several steps back due to the old shortcomings of the public healthcare system. The public was able to see how political influence was mirrored in the reforms of the healthcare system.
The biggest challenge for us in 2009 has been to maintain our shareholders’ interest for despite the negative economic and political signals.
Our main objective for next year focuses on identifying growth prospects similar to those that originally triggered our company’s decision to enter this market. We are planning to adapt our offer to the new client profile so that we can provide insurance solutions for every family in . We will also continue to contribute actively to educating the market on the importance of life insurance and especially private health insurance. At the same time we will be involved in supporting reforms in the healthcare system, one of the few economic sectors with real growth potential.
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