It’s time to get to know another member of the MAXIS team... this month, we sat down with Brian Park from our Member Management team, who oversees the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Find out about Brian’s MAXIS career that has spanned more than 15 years, his experiences as part of the Member Management team and what he enjoys most about working here.
1. You’ve been at MAXIS for some time now… how would you describe your MAXIS career so far?
I first joined MAXIS in 2009, which feels like a long time ago now… I’m originally from Korea, but I was living in Paris and worked as an Underwriter for AXA. At the time, MAXIS didn’t exist as a company, it was just a partnership agreement between AXA and MetLife until the joint venture company launched in London in 2016. This meant I was able to watch MAXIS grow into what it is now. I even remember visiting MAXIS’ temporary office in London before we moved into The Monument Building and started to welcome employees to MAXIS. It’s been exciting to see how the business has grown! I've also grown a lot within the company, and I now work for the Member Management team in Hong Kong.
2. And can you tell us a little more about your role?
I’m the Member Manager for the Asia-Pacific region, based in Hong Kong. The Member Management team was the first of its kind among the global EB networks because MAXIS recognised the importance of our relationship with our network partners for success. It’s a transversal role as I get to work with every team at MAXIS and oversee how best to manage relationships between us and our network partners. Our network members are the top priority for us as we can't do what we do without them, so building a strong partnership is key to our success.
3. As a member manager, what would you say the strengths of our network are?
I would say the strength of MAXIS comes from our network partners, as they are experts in their respective markets. We have a large and diverse network, as you can tell from the number of attendees at our Global Forum back in September 2024. Without them, MAXIS wouldn’t be the same!
4. And what are some of the challenges we face as a network?
I think the answer to this question depends on the perspective you look at it from. In my role as a Member Manager, one challenge we face is introducing our processes to new team members, both on the member side and at MAXIS. We’re trying to set up and improve the training process so new members of the team and network have an improved way of learning. Another challenge we face as a network is keeping on top of any regulatory changes, for example those relating to international reinsurance. The international EB industry is relatively new, so it’s important we stay up to date and remain compliant. Our network members do a brilliant job of keeping us updated on local changes that we may need to be aware of. Again, this shows the importance of our network and having strong relationships with our local insurance partners all around the world!
5. You were at the MAXIS Global Forum in Lisbon last September – how was it and what do you think the value is in getting our whole network together?
It was such a great experience. I think everyone who attended would agree that it was a brilliant opportunity to meet everyone in-person, which can’t be replicated online. It helps visualise how, at MAXIS, we are all part of a big family (not to sound too cliché) and it gives the team a chance to meet network partners as well as colleagues from all over the world. For the network partners especially, it gives them the opportunity to meet their peers and learn from one another, which is a unique experience that MAXIS provides.
6. What’s your favourite thing about working for MAXIS? Do you have any highlights from your time here?
Meeting with lots of our network members and visiting so many countries. I get the opportunity to experience different cultures and build different connections with lots of individuals. I was recently in the Philippines and was introduced to great Filipino food – regional events or small meetings are definitely the highlight for me. In 2023 I also had the opportunity to attend the APAC member get-together we held in Fukuoka, Japan, which had been postponed for a few years. It was great to catch up and some of our network partners and the MAXIS team in the region, plus we got to see some of the sights and try lots of new food!
7. What do you get up to outside of work? What are some of your favourite hobbies?
I have lived in Hong Kong for about seven years now and one of my favourite things to do is go hiking and play football. I like making art and have recently been taking part in a drawing challenge. I also really enjoy music! I like going to shows as well as making my own music – I was recently involved in a one-off choir that performed traditional Swedish songs for the Lucia festival which is a wintertime tradition in Sweden.
8. Finally… can you tell us anything we don’t already know about you?
I am huge archaeology nerd! Last year I was in southern Vietnam visiting our network member, Bao Viet, and I took some time off to travel to Cat Tien National Park. When I learned there were ruins of ancient temples in the area, I cycled for hours to see them in person. I enjoy visiting archaeological sites, reading and learning about ancient cultures.