Bianca Tetteroo

Dear Bianca, great to have you as one of the speakers at the Leaders in Sustainable Finance event.  Could you briefly introduce yourself to our audience, your background, how you came into your current role as Chair of the Board at Achmea, and what motivates you personally to lead in the world of finance and insurance?
I joined Achmea’s Executive Board in 2015, became Vice Chair in 2020, and Chair in 2021. I studied Information Management and Accountancy at Nyenrode University and completed executive programs in corporate governance and leadership at INSEAD.
I began my career in accountancy before moving into the financial industry  in 1996, gaining experience across asset management and insurance. What drew me to Achmea was its mutual DNA. I am motivated by the belief that insurance and finance can make a real difference in people’s lives. For me, leadership is about responsibility, collaboration, and shaping a future that is both economically strong and socially meaningful.

Under your leadership, Achmea is committed to climate-neutrality and impact investment goals. How do you see this integration of sustainability into core business strategy shaping the future of insurance and financial services in the Netherlands (and beyond)?
At Achmea, sustainability is at the heart of our strategy. Guided by our purpose, Sustainable Living, Together, we have explicitly embedded ESG as a central principle, making it integral to how we manage risk, allocate capital, and design products. This allows us to shift from repairing harm to preventing it and creating long-term value for our customers and society at large.
In the coming years, we are taking our approach to the next level through our sharpened Sustainability strategy, built around three pillars: Climate & Nature, Health & Social Wellbeing, and Financial Resilience—where we aim to create more measurable impact with greater focus.
Insurers are playing a more active role in enabling the transition to a low-carbon, resilient and inclusive economy—by directing capital to sustainable solutions, rewarding responsible behavior, and collaborating across sectors to address systemic challenges. This demonstrates that strong ESG integration and solid financial performance go hand in hand.

Recently, Achmea announced its strategy toward 2030. What role do you envision for digital innovation and data (or AI) in achieving sustainability and social-impact goals? 
Digital innovation and data, including AI, are key to achieving our 2030 strategy and social-impact goals. We are investing in AI at scale—not just to make processes more efficient or improve quality, but to transform them. AI allows us to rethink existing processes entirely, designing them smarter while always keeping a human in the loop: AI supports, but never drives—ensuring we serve both customers and colleagues. This approach helps us better serve customers and frees colleagues to focus on work where they can make the greatest impact.
Applied responsibly and guided by our purpose, digital innovation becomes a powerful accelerator of sustainable, inclusive living—strengthening Achmea’s relevance, performance, and positive impact for the future.

As an insurer, Achmea faces real climate-related risks (e.g. flooding, extreme weather, health impacts). Under those circumstances, how do you balance commercial viability, risk management, and the commitment to a sustainable, socially responsible business? 
Climate change presents insurers with increasingly tangible risks, from extreme weather and flooding to long-term health impacts. At Achmea, balancing commercial viability, risk management, and sustainability is not a trade-off—it is an integrated approach.
We use data, climate insights, and advanced analytics to better understand and manage risks, ensuring responsible pricing and long-term financial resilience. At the same time, we place growing emphasis on prevention, working with customers and partners to reduce risks before damage occurs. This is both socially responsible as well as efficient. 

As one of the speakers at the Leaders in Sustainable Finance event, what are you most looking forward to? And what is the core message or insight you hope participants will take away from your interview? 
I look forward to being inspired by fellow leaders and by the shared commitment to shaping a financial system that strengthens both people and planet. While our daily focus is often on risk, regulation, and geopolitical uncertainty, events like this remind us of our collective responsibility—and our ability to drive meaningful change. When insurers, investors, banks, innovators, and policymakers move together, the transition accelerates.
I am an optimist but also realistic. The challenges we face are complex, but we all have a role to play. Sustainability is not only about mitigating harm; it is about deliberately shaping a future that is resilient, inclusive, and worth living in. My hope is that people leave feeling empowered—aware that strategic choices, investment decisions, and product design truly matter. Together, we are not just responding to the future; we are shaping it.