The Insurance Industry's Collective Vision Took Centre Stage at saz2026
As the first summit dedicated to the insurance industry's distribution ecosystem, the saz2026 Insurance Intermediaries Summit brought together a broad range of stakeholders on 22–23 June. With participation from insurance companies, agents, brokers, technology providers and assistance companies, the summit focused on the industry's growth, transformation and the future of the value chain that delivers insurance solutions to customers.
Distinguished from other industry events by its exclusive focus on distribution channels, saz2026 examined insurance not only from the perspective of insurance companies, but also as a shared responsibility across the entire ecosystem that serves customers.
The first day of the summit was held with Türkiye Sigorta as the Day Sponsor, while AXA Sigorta served as the Day Sponsor on the second day. Monopoli Sigorta participated as the Main Sponsor of the Strategic Sessions, while the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB) supported the summit as a Corporate Participation Partner. Quick Sigorta, MetLife, Agito and Venhancer took part as Platform Sponsors.
HOMER Smart Auto Service, Remed Assistance, DASK and SigortaAcentesi.com participated as Ecosystem Sponsors of the summit. Doğa Sigorta, Katılım Emeklilik, Medline, RS Automotive Group, Tur Assist and Ünlem Sigorta supported the event as Summit Partners. The TOBB Insurance Agents Executive Committee (TOBB SAİK) and the Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Association also made significant contributions to saz2026 as Industry Participation Partners.
Opening Message: Insurance Intermediaries Are at the Heart of Transformation
The summit’s opening address was delivered by Mehmet Turgay Özata, Deputy General Manager of Türkiye Sigorta. Highlighting the critical role of insurance intermediaries in the development of the industry, Özata noted that agents account for 55% of the insurance distribution market and emphasised that the insurance business is fundamentally built on trust.
Özata stated that digitalisation has not diminished the importance of insurance intermediaries; on the contrary, it has made their role even more significant. He noted that the relationship of trust established with customers still depends on human interaction. According to Özata, insurance intermediaries are no longer positioned merely as sales channels, but as strategic advisers who manage their customers’ risks.
Speaking at the opening session, Levent Korkut, Chairman of the TOBB Insurance Agents Executive Committee (TOBB SAİK), stated that the industry should focus its energy on expanding the insurance market rather than protecting existing areas of market share. Noting that the traditional brokerage model is gradually giving way to a risk analysis-driven advisory approach, Korkut said that digitalisation and artificial intelligence are fundamentally transforming the way the industry operates.
Korkut added that a hybrid model that embraces technology rather than excluding it has become inevitable, emphasising that agents capable of improving operational efficiency while delivering greater advisory value to customers will stand out in the market.
Delivering the final opening address, Ahmet Yaşar, President of the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB), stated that the insurance industry is evolving beyond a structure focused solely on claims payments and is increasingly embracing a preventive insurance approach.
Yaşar pointed out that natural disasters, an ageing population and evolving risks are widening protection gaps in Türkiye, adding that the role of insurance within the economic and social system needs to be communicated more effectively. Emphasising the importance of all stakeholders working together for the industry to achieve its target of USD 50 billion in premium volume by 2030, Yaşar noted that agents and brokers still account for a large proportion of initial customer contact in insurance.
Next-Generation Agency Models Discussed in the First Session
The summit’s first panel focused on the future of insurance agencies under the theme “Next-Generation Agency Models: Scalability, Small Offices, Institutionalisation and Structural Transformation.” Moderated by Cem Yılmazer, General Manager of BEST Publishing, the session brought together Ahmet Yaşar, President of the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB), Levent Korkut, Chairman of the TOBB Insurance Agents Executive Committee (TOBB SAİK), Erol Esentürk, Co-Founder and CEO of Monopoli Sigorta, and Yavuz Ölken, CEO of AXA Türkiye, who shared their valuable insights.
The panel emphasised that digitalisation should be viewed as an enabler rather than a threat to insurance agents. The speakers agreed that digital transformation offers alternative distribution models that enhance agents’ effectiveness instead of replacing them. Another key takeaway from the discussion was that the industry's sustainable growth objectives can only be achieved through a thorough understanding of both customer and agent needs. The panellists stressed that agents must develop a deeper understanding of their customers, arguing that progress in this area would be a major driver of success for the insurance industry.
Strong Attendance and Key Industry Topics Mark Day One of saz2026
The second session of the day, titled “Digital Transformation in Insurance Agencies: Artificial Intelligence and the Evolution of the New Customer Experience,” explored the impact of technology on insurance distribution channels. Moderated by Cem Yılmazer, General Manager of BEST Publishing, the panel featured Erdem Çalışkan, CEO of Venhancer, Melek Yılmaz, COO of sigortaacentesi.com, and Fatih Tunga, General Manager of Tunga Sigorta.
The panellists highlighted that artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities across a wide range of areas, from operational efficiency to customer engagement. At the same time, they emphasised that trust remains the fundamental cornerstone of the insurance business.
The third session focused on “Expanding into Life Insurance and the Private Pension System (PPS) for Insurance Agents.” The discussion highlighted life insurance and the Private Pension System (PPS) as significant growth opportunities for insurance agents, while exploring the reasons why agencies have yet to establish a stronger presence in these segments. The panel was moderated by Aysun Yıldız, Deputy Secretary General of the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB), and featured Gökhan Uçar, Chairman of the Board of Ünlem Sigorta, Selçuk Adıgüzel, President of AXA Hayat ve Emeklilik, Gökhan Sertsöz, Deputy General Manager of BNPPC, and Arda Turcan, Founder of Siar Sigorta, who enriched the discussion with their expertise and experience.
The fourth session, titled “Service Quality, Product Diversity and Service Reliability,” was moderated by Cem Yılmazer and featured Ünal Ünaldı, Chairman of the Board of RS Holding, Eyüp Özsoy, General Manager of Quick Sigorta, Zübeyde Erdemir, General Manager of Zer Sigorta, and Bekir Kılıç, Chairman of the Board of Magarsus Sigorta Brokerliği. The panel examined changing customer expectations in the insurance industry. The speakers noted that product diversity alone is no longer sufficient, emphasising that customers now place greater importance than ever on fast, transparent and reliable service experiences.
The fifth session, titled “The Role of Insurance Agents in the Service Ecosystem,” explored operational management, technology integration, and the responsibilities assumed by insurance intermediaries during disasters and crisis situations. The discussion underscored that collaboration among the various stakeholders within the insurance ecosystem plays a critical role in ensuring customer satisfaction. Moderated by Cem Yılmazer, the panel featured Haluk Yeşilbayraktar, General Manager of HOMER Smart Auto Service, Dr. Selçuk Tiftik, Chairman of the Board of Remed, Balkır Demirkan, Secretary General of DASK, and Suzan Süsen Ümit, General Manager of Derman Sigorta.
The sixth session, titled “The Position of Insurance Agents in a Multi-Channel World: Competition or Balance?”, examined the role of different distribution models within the insurance industry. The panellists agreed that a balanced structure centred on customer needs, rather than competition among distribution channels, would better support the industry's growth. The session was particularly noteworthy as both the moderator and all panellists were insurance agents, making it a significant gathering of industry professionals. Moderated by Özgür Yılmaz, General Manager of Yılmaz & Yılmaz Sigorta, the panel featured Hande Önal, General Manager of Hande Önal Sigorta, Şebap Çelik, General Manager of Nişantaşı Sigorta, and Ünal Tanyıldızı, General Manager of Tanyıldızı Sigorta, who enriched the discussion by sharing their extensive industry experience.
The day concluded with the session titled “Insurance Intermediation in a Time of Transformation: Perspectives and Collective Wisdom,” where Mehmet Turgay Özata, Deputy General Manager of Türkiye Sigorta, Levent Korkut, Chairman of the TOBB Insurance Agents Executive Committee (TOBB SAİK), and Cenk Ecevit, Chairman of the Insurance Brokers Association, reflected on the key themes discussed throughout the day from the perspective of collective industry wisdom.
Preventive Insurance Takes Centre Stage on Day Two
The second day of the saz2026 Insurance Intermediaries Summit began with an opening address by Yavuz Ölken, CEO of AXA Türkiye. Sharing his perspective on the future of the industry, Ölken stated that insurance will increasingly be shaped not only by products and pricing, but also by a stronger focus on customer understanding, risk management, sustainability and empathy.
Ölken also noted that the saz2026 Insurance Intermediaries Summit is more than an event that brings industry stakeholders together, describing it as an important platform for discussing the future of insurance. He stated that the ideas generated at such summits and the dialogue within the industry produce valuable outcomes for both the insurance ecosystem and the investment environment, and emphasised that gaining a deeper understanding of customers should be one of the industry’s top priorities.
Ölken stated that the industry should work towards common goals without drawing distinctions between distribution channels. “Whatever we do, the choice of distribution channel belongs to the policyholder. What truly matters is creating an ecosystem in which all channels can develop together,” he said.
Drawing attention to the rapid changes in customer expectations and lifestyles, Ölken added that one of the industry's most critical challenges is determining how insurance agents can successfully adapt to this new environment.
Addressing artificial intelligence and the future dynamics of competition, Yavuz Ölken, CEO of AXA Türkiye, stated that an insurance model based solely on price competition would not be sustainable in the years ahead. He noted that future competition would be shaped by the ability to better understand customers, risks and distribution channels, adding that sustainable growth would only be possible through this approach.
“We need to strengthen an insurance approach that puts people at the centre,” Ölken said, emphasising that empathy would become one of the most important competitive factors of the future. Recalling that insurance is built on trust, he added that the relationship established with customers is just as critical as technological transformation.
Concluding his remarks with a striking message, Yavuz Ölken, CEO of AXA Türkiye, described the current phase of the industry as a “return to factory settings.” He emphasised the need to refocus on the core principles of insurance, including trust, customer centricity, risk expertise and long-term value creation, and expressed his confidence that the insurance industry would successfully complete this transformation.
The Inevitable Impact of the Digital Ecosystem and Artificial Intelligence Discussed
The first session of the second day featured the panel titled “The Inevitable Impact of the Digital Ecosystem and Artificial Intelligence: Operations, Lead Management, Insurance Agents and Online Sales Channels,” moderated by Nihal Asker, CEO of RS Holding. Sanem Çıngay Buçukoğlu, President of Sales, Corporate Communications and Health at AXA Sigorta, Çiğdem Kılıç, Deputy General Manager of Türkiye Sigorta, Cüneyt Aşuk, Deputy General Manager responsible for Technology at Agito, and Ataman Kalkan, CEO of Sigortam.net, shared valuable insights during the session.
The panellists emphasised that artificial intelligence is improving efficiency across a wide range of areas, from policy issuance processes to risk profiling, while noting that its true value lies in enabling insurers to better understand customers and guide them towards the right solutions. They highlighted that it has become increasingly critical for insurance agents to save time and devote greater attention to customer engagement, adding that digital visibility is no longer optional but essential.
The panel also underlined that insurance is not merely about issuing policies, but about providing protection and support when customers need it most. The speakers agreed that effective data management and the human-centred use of artificial intelligence will play a defining role in shaping the future of the industry.
The second session, titled “The Growing Influence of Financial Distribution Channels in Insurance,” explored the development of bancassurance, the impact of participation finance on the insurance industry, and the increasing adoption of alternative distribution models. The panellists highlighted that integration within the broader financial ecosystem is one of the key drivers of higher insurance penetration.
Moderated by Cem Yılmazer, the panel featured Sami Kaya, Deputy General Manager of Neova Sigorta, Asude Yüce Korkmaz, Consumer Finance Marketing Manager at Kuveyt Türk, Gökhan Sertsöz, Deputy General Manager of BNPPC, and Ali Lülü, Group Director of Bancassurance at TEB, as speakers.
The third session, titled “A New Era in Corporate Risk Management and Insurance Intermediation,” focused on reinsurance mechanisms, resilience and sustainability. Addressing risk management from multiple perspectives, the panel examined the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Chaired by Cem Yılmazer, the session brought together Levent Atakan, Financial Services Sector Leader at Ernst & Young Türkiye, Barış Altın, Chief Technical Officer of AXA Sigorta, Bora Akdoğanlar, Chairman of the Board of the Corporate Risk Management Association, Ebru Yüksekbilgili, General Manager of Corporate Risk and Insurance at Lockton Omni Sigorta ve Reasürans Brokerliği, and Dr. Selçuk Tiftik, Chairman of the Board of Remed Assistance.
Accurately Identifying Protection Gaps Is Essential for the Insurance Industry
Speaking during the fourth session, titled “Preventive Insurance and the New Risk Management,” Yavuz Ölken, CEO of AXA Türkiye, said that changing lifestyles, technological transformation, and emerging risk areas are creating significant protection gaps in the insurance industry, and that the future of the sector will be shaped by its ability to accurately identify these gaps and develop effective solutions. Emphasizing that protection gaps are not only a source of risk but also a major opportunity for the growth of the insurance industry and the strengthening of societal resilience, Ölken noted that preventive insurance will play a critical role in the 2030 vision. He also stated that, in the face of increasing risk complexity, the transition from systems that respond only after a loss has occurred to integrated systems capable of anticipating and managing risks proactively is inevitable.
Ölken noted that changing customer behavior is also transforming the insurance industry, stating that the expectations of younger generations, new lifestyle habits, and evolving needs are reshaping the entire structure, from product design to distribution models. He added that the role of agents is also changing as part of this transformation, emphasizing that the agent of the future will stand out not merely by offering the most competitive premium, but by understanding customers, accurately analyzing their risks, and developing sustainable solutions as a trusted advisor. He also stressed that technology investments and customer insights are among the key drivers of this transformation.
The Future Is Promising for Embedded Insurance Models
The fifth session focused on “Embedded Insurance and New Distribution Models.” One of the key topics highlighted during the panel was the expectation of a significant leap in embedded insurance as insurance products become integrated into various services and platforms. The panel was moderated by Gencay Genç, Managing Partner at Genç Sigorta, while the speakers included Aydın Çağlan, Director of Bancassurance, Corporate Solutions and Business Development at MetLife Türkiye, Erdem Çalışkan, CEO of Venhancer, Ayşe Seda Düğmeli, CEO of Insurext, and Buket Erşan, Deputy General Manager of Fibasigorta.
In the sixth session, titled “The Role of Big Data in Customer Management in the Insurance Sector,” data-driven pricing, customer behavior analyses, and segmentation models were evaluated. It was stated that big data is not merely a technical tool, but also lies at the center of strategic decision-making processes. The session was moderated by Cem Yılmazer and featured contributions from Aylin Akınlı Kaya, Director of Growth Strategies, Customer and Digital Platforms at AXA Sigorta; Erol Esentürk of Monopoli Sigorta; Selcen Doğan, CEO of Doğan Sigorta Reasürans Brokerliği; and Özgür Bülent Koç, Acting General Manager of Türk Re.
In the final session of the day, perspectives on the future of the sector were discussed under the title “Next-Generation Insurance Opportunities and the Future.” In the closing session moderated by Seda Bora Arkan, International Business Development and Green Investments Director, topics including climate change and agricultural risks, cyber risks, protection models, and the future vision of insurance were discussed alongside traditional risks. Opening the session with the quote “Climate change is no longer just a problem for the polar bear,” Arkan effectively summarized the mindset of the session within this context. The panel also featured valuable insights from Cenk Ecevit, President of the Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Association, and Nihal Asker, CEO of RS Holding.
Stating that risks in the insurance industry of the future will increasingly be concentrated around climate-related issues, Seda Bora Arkan emphasized that preparing for this new era is a significant priority for the insurance sector and concluded the summit.
