Prudential eyes increase in number of agents

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KUALA LUMPUR: Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd expects to increase the number of agents this year following the opening of its new training academy.Its chief executive officer, Charlie Oropeza, said in line with the company’s efforts to convert its 11,000-strong agents to become qualified wealth planners, the Prudential Training Academy would offer 55 training programmes this year.

“Prudential is committed to nurture its staff via consistent training programmes to meet the various and unique developmental needs of an individual.

“When you invest in the future, you don’t really think too much about cost,” he told a media briefing after opening the academy here yesterday.

Oropeza said training and development of people were important.

“If you put a price on it today, you will never invest, as you do not see the return right away,” he said.

He said Prudential was also committed to grow its 3,000 Bumiputera agents to tap the growing market as well as demand for the company’s wide range of products, especially takaful.

“Currently, Islamic products contributed about 15-20 per cent of the company’s revenue,” he said.

Oropeza said the academy was formerly a recreational club in Ukay Perdana which has undergone a RM1.8 million facelift to meet its training and team-building needs.

He said Prudential planned to open two more branches in Kajang and Skudai, Johor in the next three months. — Bernama