Breaking the ice: Meet Callant Insurances, Belgium
3 January 2025
The UNIBA Partners’ network is constantly evolving; new Partners join, IDMs, and Senior Contacts change. Although we have the chance to see each other face-to-face, most of the time we are meeting behind our laptops. And in this online environment, you might have missed a new Partner joining or a contact change, right? Through this article series, we will make sure that that doesn’t happen anymore! In ‘Breaking the Ice’ we will introduce new Partners, their specializations, and, perhaps even more importantly, the people behind them.
In this month’s edition, we are pleased to introduce our new Belgian Partner, Callant Insurances, which was previously part of UNIBA as an Approved Broker. We spoke with Peter Callant, founder and CEO of Callant Insurances, to discuss his company, international business, and customer relations.
For those who have not had the chance to meet you just yet, can you please introduce yourself and your company?
My name is Peter Callant, founder and CEO of Callant Insurance, a growing family-owned company that has been active in the insurance sector for over 30 years. Callant assists both businesses and individuals in finding suitable insurance solutions for their diverse risks, focusing on customization and customer-oriented service. We treat our employees and customers like family. Our goal is to become the leading reference in Belgium and achieve a commission of $40 million by 2030. At Callant, we strive for a personal approach, where we not only sell products but also truly guide our customers in identifying the right solutions for their specific situations. Our team comprises 140 experienced advisors who leverage their expertise to accurately identify risks and tailor insurance to meet each customer's unique needs.
Why is “international” important to your company and clients?
As a broker who primarily focuses on companies, we increasingly notice that clients operate within Belgium but also internationally. The world is becoming more interconnected, and businesses establish international contacts, branches, or operations. This trend demands insurance that transcends national borders. By expanding internationally, we can provide our clients with insurance solutions that adhere to local laws and regulations as well as international standards and requirements. Through UNIBA, we can access insurance partners and expertise worldwide, enabling us to support our clients in their international ambitions optimally.
What are you hoping to get out of the UNIBA network in the coming years?
The UNIBA network provides us with the opportunity to access a diverse array of knowledge, expertise, and resources that we may not possess internally. By collaborating with other Partners in the network, we can deliver improved international solutions to our customers. This not only enhances our service but also helps us stay innovative in a rapidly evolving insurance market. We particularly aim to learn from the network, acquire insights into best practices, and thereby strengthen both our local and global services. Additionally, building long-term relationships with other Partners is crucial for us, ultimately enhancing our customers' satisfaction.
How do you see your company contributing to the network?
Callant places a strong emphasis on 'customer intimacy', which entails personal advice and customization – an aspect we aim to promote within the UNIBA network. We can add value by translating local knowledge into international solutions and by sharing our expertise in advising companies that operate both nationally and internationally. We view ourselves as a bridge between the local market in Belgium and the international network. Additionally, our 140 experienced specialists are available to all UNIBA Partners.
On the more personal side, is there a book that has inspired you these past years?
A book that has inspired me both personally and professionally is “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey. This book has significantly impacted my views on leadership and personal effectiveness. Covey explains how one can grow as an individual and a leader by being aware of their own behavior, principles, and choices. The seven qualities he describes, such as “Start with the end in mind” and “Strive for win-win,” have helped me think more clearly and act more proactively in both my professional and personal life.
This book has not only helped me develop my own leadership skills, but has also influenced the way we communicate and collaborate as a team at Callant Insurance. It emphasizes the importance of integrity, long-term vision, and effective communication—values that are also central to our approach to customer relationships and business operations.
To conclude, if you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
If I had the opportunity to have lunch with anyone, it would be Bill Gates. This is not only due to his immense success with Microsoft, but also because of his efforts to address global issues such as healthcare, poverty, and education. I admire his ability to blend technology with philanthropy and his vision for improving the world. Such a conversation would be both inspiring and provide valuable insights into how we, as a company, can act responsibly and contribute to a better world.
