FERMA Survey reveals a profession growing in strength to tackle post Covid-19 challenges
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations today published the results of the 2020 European Risk Manager Report on 26 June. This is the 10th edition of the report and represents the widest available information from professional risk managers across Europe. It has taken placed every other year since 2002. Click here for 2020 methodology and survey respondents.
The President of FERMA Dirk Wegener said: “This survey took place before the implications of COVID-19 were clear, but we can see that the risk manager is strengthening his or her contribution to the recovery and sustainability of the organisations.” Click here to read the foreword of our report.
He added that as an organisation FERMA is contributing to this process through events like the 2020 Seminar on 12-13 October, a learning event that focuses on corporate risk and finance. Click here to read 2020 results on: The risk manager’s education and the increasing importance of certification
Click here to download the full report in PDF format
Please click here to read the 2 pages of KEY FINDINGS
Risk landscape
Digital risks continue to be the most significant threats to business in the short (12 months) and medium-term (3 years). Cyber threats are the number 1 risk in both time frames, and data theft and fraud are growing in importance and stand at number 4 in the short term.
Uncertain economic growth appears as the number 2 threat short term (12 months) and number 3 medium term (3 years).
Risks related to sustainability are two of the top three risks in the long term (10 years) with climate-change and environment damage the number 1 risk and extreme weather events number 3.
Dirk Wegener said: “The Covid-19 crisis heightens the importance of the top concerns of risk managers as shown in the report: digital risks, economic uncertainty and sustainability. Today, the priority given to these risks might be different, depending on the business sector, but their overall importance would not change.”
Insurance
A hardening insurance market is an issue for risk managers. The report shows:
- 90% are concerned about limitations and exclusions for emerging/specific risks.
- 88% are concerned about changes in market conditions.
- 68% are concerned about concentration in the insurance market.
One consequence is renewed interest in captives with 43% of risk managers considering this option compared to 15% in 2018. 27% of risk managers say they will use an existing captive for hard to place risks compared to 1% in the 2018 survey. 16% of risk managers plan to create a new (re)insurance captive compared to 14% in 2018.
Dirk Wegener said: “Post Covid-19, we are seeing a market that is unsettled and tougher, as insurers deal with losses on both sides of the balance sheet. Capacity for some lines of cover may be very limited and expensive. The insurance risk manager’s skills and experience will be especially valuable in protecting their companies at this time.”
Click here for 2020 results: The risk manager facing hardening insurance market conditions
The risk management profession
The strategic role continues to grow:
- 60% of risk managers assess risks related to the different strategies considered by their organisation during its strategy definition (2018 – 47%) and 59% assess risks related to the non-alignment of the organisation’s strategy with its mission, vision and core values and core values (2018 – 41%).
- 67% of the risk managers use innovative technologies in their activities: data analysis, data visualisation, process automation and/or artificial intelligence. Click here for full 2020 results: The risk manager’s growing role in the digital transformation
- More than half the risk managers work closely with IT and information security on cyber risks or have it within their team. More than one-third of risk managers are directly involved in the management of risks related to the adoption of new technologies by their organisation. Click here for 2020 results on: The risk manager’s presence and interaction within the organisation
- 40% of survey respondents say they are already playing or are planning to play a specific role regarding environmental, social and governance-related (ESG) risks. Click here for full 2020 results: The risk manager’s contribution to sustainability
Said Dirk Wegener: “Risk managers are increasingly taking advantage of innovative technology to enhance risk measurement, analysis and treatment. This is essential for us to manage the lessons learned for the post COVID-19 world for our organisations.”
Click here to download the full report in PDF format
Click here to view the webinar replay and download the webinar presentation.
The full set of results
Download the full set of results in PDF format
