UNIBA Partners

What UNIBA Partners does

UNIBA Partners is a non-profit global network of independent insurance brokers founded in 1987 and structured as a registered association (e.V.) under German law, with a registered office in Hamburg and an operational headquarters in Brussels. The network connects 80+ owner-led independent insurance brokerage firms operating in 130+ countries, enabling cross-border insurance placement, multinational risk management, and employee benefits solutions for mid-sized and large corporate clients with international operations. The organization does not sell insurance directly; instead, member brokers access UNIBA's international desk manager network, centers of excellence, and partner referral infrastructure to deliver coordinated global programs while preserving local market expertise.

The network operates three core service lines: insurance broking, risk management advisory, and employee benefits consulting. Membership benefits include cross-border placement capability through vetted partner firms, dedicated international desk managers for coordinated servicing, centers of excellence for specialized risk categories (energy, construction), monthly knowledge-sharing calls, and a calendar of events including the annual Worldwide Conference, International Desk Manager Conference, and Regional Conferences. Strategic partnerships with Zurich Insurance Group, Chubb, Great American International Insurance, FERMA (RIMAP certification), and Zurich Resilience Solutions extend the network's capacity and advisory capabilities. The organization also maintains an Insurtech track for technology-enabled distribution partners.

Revenue is generated through recurring membership fees paid by partner brokers, with the network structured as a non-profit association where surpluses are reinvested into partner services rather than distributed to owners. The organization reports €8.5 billion in 2024 Premium Volume placed across the network, a flow-through metric rather than company revenue. UNIBA is governed by a Board of Directors elected from among its partners; Christian Hörtkorn serves as President, and on 30 April 2026 Jasper Havermans succeeded Mareen Hüffmeier as CEO after her 28-year tenure.

Name

UNIBA Partners

Legal name

UNIBA Partners - Insurance Brokers Worldwide e.V.

Website

https://uniba-partners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

UNIBA Partners is a non-profit global network of 80+ independent insurance brokers across 130+ countries, founded in 1987 and structured as an association under German law. It enables member brokers to deliver cross-border insurance broking, risk management, and employee benefits solutions to multinational clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage Services

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Reinsurance Brokerage (FSAEADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Benefits Administration & Global Benefits Brokerage (BPACAHAG)

Keywords

• Insurance broker network
• Risk management solutions
• Employee benefits brokerage
• Cross-border insurance placement
• Global commercial insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Network Membership Fees: UNIBA Partners operates as a non-profit global network of independent insurance brokers. Revenue is generated through membership fees from broker partners who join the network to access international placement capabilities, cross-border servicing, and collaborative business development opportunities across 130+ countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UNIBA Partners operates a non-profit global network of 80+ independent insurance brokers across 130+ countries, enabling cross-border insurance placement, risk management advisory, and multinational employee benefits solutions. Through international desk managers, regional centers of excellence, and member-to-member referrals, the network lets independent brokers service their clients' international operations with vetted local partners while preserving consistent service standards. Revenue is generated primarily via membership fees paid by partner broker firms.

Product overview

UNIBA Partners operates as a non-profit global network of independent insurance brokers providing three core service lines: insurance broking, risk management, and employee benefits solutions. The network spans 130+ countries with 80 partners, enabling cross-border insurance services without compromising local expertise. Supplementary offerings include access to RIMAP professional certification through FERMA partnership, and a calendar of events including Worldwide Conference, International Desk Manager Conference, and Regional Conferences. The organization is structured as an association (e.V.) with offices in Hamburg (registered) and Brussels (operational).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Insurance Broking Services Cross-border commercial insurance broking delivered to member brokers' clients through vetted local partners, covering placement, servicing, and program coordination across 130+ countries.
• Risk Management Solutions Risk advisory and management services helping clients identify, assess, and mitigate risks across multinational operations, drawing on network specialty centers (energy, construction, ESG, surety, cyber).
• Employee Benefits Solutions Cross-border employee benefits brokerage and consulting, including health, retirement, and group benefit programs, coordinated for multinational clients through local member brokers.

Quantifiable outcome

• €8.5 billion total premium volume across network in 2024

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Zurich Insurance Group is a strategic partner providing insurance capacity and specialized market knowledge to UNIBA Partners' network members. Through the partnership, Zurich offers solutions for construction, asset affinity, finance & leasing, life changing events, and surety lines.
• ChubbcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Chubb operates as a strategic insurer partner within the UNIBA network, providing specialized insurance products and capacity for network members servicing international clients.
• ADPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ADP (Automatic Data Processing) collaborates with UNIBA Partners as part of the strategic partnership ecosystem, providing services to network members.
• FERMAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024UNIBA Partners joined forces with FERMA (European Federation of Risk Management Associations) to offer members exclusive access to RIMAP (Risk Management Certification Program). The certification benefits young professionals, client-facing staff, and senior staff, strengthening dialogue between brokers and risk managers.
• Zurich Resilience SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Zurich Resilience Solutions, the commercial risk advisory and services unit of Zurich Insurance Group, was selected as the preferred supplier for UNIBA Partners. They provide sustainability risk insights and ESG strategy support for network members.
• Great American International InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Great American International Insurance (EU) DAC and Great American International Insurance (UK) Limited joined as A+ rated insurers offering pan-European capabilities and specialized market knowledge. They provide specialty insurance products including Construction & Engineering, Asset Affinity, Finance & Leasing, Life Changing Events, and Surety.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Worldwide Broker Network: Worldwide Broker Network is the closest direct peer to UNIBA Partners — an international network of independent insurance brokers offering cross-border placement and risk management. Operates with a similar federation model connecting independent brokers across multiple countries for international client servicing.
• BIB Broker Network: BIB Broker Network is another global alliance of independent insurance brokers, structurally very similar to UNIBA — connecting owner-led broker firms for cross-border client service. Competes for the same independent broker membership pool and overlapping multinational client mandates.
• Lockton: Lockton is the world's largest independent insurance brokerage, sharing UNIBA's owner-led, privately-held ethos and emphasis on partner-level client service. While much larger and not a network of separate firms, it competes for the same mid-market and multinational client placements that UNIBA partners target.
• Howden Group: Howden is a rapidly growing independent insurance broker with strong international expansion ambitions, sharing UNIBA's independent ethos and international focus. While structured as a single firm rather than a broker network, it directly competes for international placement work UNIBA facilitates across its partners.

Broad incumbents

• Marsh McLennan: Marsh is the world's largest insurance broker and a dominant multinational placement franchise, offering global risk management and employee benefits consulting. UNIBA's network explicitly positions itself as an alternative for clients seeking local expertise over mega-broker scale, making Marsh a benchmark competitor rather than a direct network peer.
• Aon: Aon is a top-tier global insurance and reinsurance broker with deep multinational client relationships and proprietary analytics capabilities. It competes with UNIBA's network partners for the largest cross-border risk placements and sets the scale benchmark UNIBA partners position against.
• Willis Towers Watson (WTW): WTW is a major global insurance and reinsurance broker with extensive international capabilities across risk management and employee benefits. As a broad incumbent with multinational scale, it competes for the same large international client programs that UNIBA's network serves through partner coordination.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Gallagher is a large global insurance brokerage and risk management firm with substantial international operations. Its growing international footprint directly competes with UNIBA for multinational client placements, particularly in mid-market and specialty lines.
• Brown & Brown, Inc. Brown & Brown is a large US-headquartered insurance brokerage with expanding international operations. While still predominantly North American, its international growth ambitions place it in competition with UNIBA-affiliated brokers for cross-border placements into North America.
• Hub International: Hub International is a large North American insurance brokerage with growing Canadian and select international presence. It serves as a broad incumbent reference point for UNIBA partners operating in the North American market and competes for similar mid-market commercial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UNIBA Partners