Breaking the ice: Meet Expertis Consulting, Ivory Coast

Breaking the ice: Meet Expertis Consulting, Ivory Coast

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’re pleased to introduce our new partner in Ivory Coast, Expertis Consulting. We met up with the Executive Chairman of Expertis, Mel Kebe, to discuss the company and their expectations.

For those who haven’t had the chance to meet you just yet, can you please introduce yourself and your company?

My name is Mel Kebe, and I'm the Executive Chairman of Expertis Consulting, a brokerage firm in Ivory Coast. I have a finance background, having spent the early years of my career in finance, specifically in the auditing and accounting sector. Afterward, I transitioned to the insurance industry, working for approximately 13 to 14 years with an insurance group now part of Sanlam. I served as the CEO and Country Manager for Sanlam in Ghana before deciding to leave and establish my own venture in 2016.

Expertis operates in four countries in West Africa: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, and Ghana. We offer our brokerage services on a wide range of products, including motor and medical insurance, as well as fire and contractors' risk coverage. The majority of our clients are corporate, with roughly 90% of our portfolio dedicated to corporate accounts. We’re fortunate to work with well-known companies such as Barrick, the largest gold mining company globally; Terminal de San Pedro, an MSC subsidiary managing operations at the second-largest port in the country; Deloitte; Diamond Cement, a major Indian cement company in the region; and several others

Why is “international” important to your company and clients?

The economies in our region are relatively small, making it difficult to scale by focusing solely on one country. It is crucial to offer solutions and services that transcend borders. By joining UNIBA, we can provide clients with solutions via partnerships with other Partners, enabling us to address cross-border needs across multiple countries. For me, possessing an international presence signifies the ability to deliver services beyond our original market.

What are you hoping to get out of the UNIBA network in the coming years?

I believe the relationship must be mutually beneficial. I'm hopeful that the network will provide us with business referrals and enhance our experience through diverse insights, new products, and innovations. Many of the UNIBA Partners operate in more established markets, so I’m confident we’ll learn about trends in the insurance industry from them. This should also inspire us with fresh ideas for product offerings.

In exchange, we are dedicated to digital transformation. Our software as a service (SaaS) subsidiary has created our web and mobile platforms. We aim to contribute our expertise to the network. While this might not hold as much relevance for members in highly developed countries, it could offer value to those in markets similar to ours—especially in optimizing operations within the brokerage system.

On the more personal side of things, is there any book that inspired you, either professionally or personally?

I have a passion for personal development and spirituality, which naturally brings to mind the Bible. Lately, however, one particular reading has greatly inspired me. The first is the “Prayer of Mahatma Gandhi,” which advocates for living in harmony with nature and emphasizes sharing and kindness over self-interest. It highlights the need to coexist without inflicting harm on others. I came across this prayer about two months ago, and it continues to inspire me.

Professionally, I reflect on a quote from a former CIA official regarding "perception versus perspective." He noted that 98% of individuals operate from perception—how we see the world and those around us—while merely 2% possess perspective, the capacity to understand the perceptions of others. My goal is to be part of that 2% who have perspective. In the business realm, perspective is key.

And on a final note, ifyou could have lunch with anyone, who would it be and why?

Without any hesitation, it would be Jesus Christ. He’s always been the one I’d like to meet. I have so many questions about the world we live in—so many “whys” to ask him.