How to choose the right international insurance programme: Master, Local or Hybrid?

Tailoring global insurance: which programme fits your business best?
Choosing the right international insurance programme depends on your company’s structure, operations, and level of decentralisation. Whether it’s a centralised master policy, stand-alone country policies, or a hybrid mix, Meijers Global & Specialty designs solutions that align with your business needs and international footprint. We spoke with Michel van der Linden (CFO of Suitsupply) and Evert Jan van Garderen (CEO of Eurocommercial Properties) to illustrate how different models work in practice.

Suitsupply

Controlled Master Programme: global consistency from one central point
‘Suitsupply is a Dutch company established in 2000 by Fokke de Jong. We are known worldwide for our high quality menswear and our focus is on craftsmanship, personal service and fast and direct sales channels, including our stores and webshop. We operate in a market in which new trends are certainly important but where consistency is the crucial factor. Suitsupply uses a vertically integrated business model and exercises full chain management: from product development, purchasing and production to marketing and omni-channel distribution. This also applies to our production and logistics, which we subcontract to leading parties with whom we maintain strong and sustained relations. We have over 100 stores in Europe, the US, Australia, Canada and China and we employ the same concept all over the world. We manage our worldwide organisation in a centralised manner from our head office in Amsterdam, with support from our offices in New York and Shanghai.’  

Centralised approach
‘With respect to risk management and insurance, we opt for the same centralised approach through an international controlled master programme. One overarching insurance programme for the whole world, with an additional local policy if required. Fire damage is one of our main worldwide risks. Meijers Global and Specialty has identified our group interdependencies in the value chain. Our warehouses are closely connected to our stores. If there is a fire at one of our distribution centres, it has a direct effect on the supply of our stores worldwide. Fires and other risks are covered for us by one overarching insurance programme. This also applies to liability and transport. As a centrally organised business, it is great to be able to work with one insurance broker who coordinates everything.’

Eurocommercial Properties

Stand-Alone Managed Policies: flexibility for local realities
‘We are an international listed property investor specialised in the operation of shopping centres in Europe. At the moment, we have 24 centres in Belgium, France, Italy and Sweden. We used to manage the business operations of our entire organisation from our head office in the Netherlands, including our risk management and insurance cover. However, this wasn’t an optimal situation because we were managing unique properties in each country and location. We had to deal with different tenants, customers and different kinds of risks in each shopping centre, genuinely local business in other words. The country directors, property managers and shopping centre managers are the ones who are closest to the reality on the ground. So, a few years ago we decided to decentralise our organisation and to give priority to their local knowledge and experience. They were in the best position to assume direct responsibility for their country and shopping centres.’ 

Decentralisation
‘This decentralisation enabled us to choose a local strategy for risk management and insurance, one to which our stand-alone managed solutions are perfectly suited. Meijers Global & Specialty provides us with local policies that match the different situations per country and location, which in turn facilitates a direct connection between our local personnel and local insurance intermediaries. It also contributes to a heightened sense of local responsibility. The greatest risk our company faces is fire. It can lead to significant losses in rental revenues and so we make sure it is fully covered by insurance. In addition, with millions of customers visiting our shopping centres and thousands of retailers doing business there, issues relating to liability are always bound to arise and the risk to reputation is significant, too, in the case of claims. That risk is insured centrally, with local policies covering the settlement of claims. Cyber risk is obviously another major risk. We manage our business using tenant and visitor data stored in our Client Relation Management System (CRM). We also have smart energy systems in our shopping centres, which brings other risks with it as well. Electricity supplies can be vulnerable and can fail in the case of a cyber attack, with all the obvious consequences, and we are very aware of this. In this potential minefield of risks, Meijers is our coordinating international broker, knowledge partner and specialist in risk management and insurance. We are kept fully abreast of all new developments and given an insight into the results of their market research and benchmarks in the insurance market. They also provide excellent documentation and reports, which strengthens our position in negotiations with local providers of financing and mortgages.’

Hybrid Programme: The best of both worlds
Some companies benefit from a hybrid model—a strategic mix of global oversight and local adaptation. With this setup, Meijers designs a central Master policy that includes Difference in Conditions (DIC) and Difference in Limits (DIL) coverage, ensuring group-wide protection. Local risks are then assessed and either added to the Master policy or covered through independent local policies. This structure combines central coordination with local autonomy, ensuring optimal coverage, compliance, and cost-efficiency. Claims are handled locally, while Meijers monitors the entire programme from its headquarters in Amstelveen, supported by a strong network of international partners.

Q&A

1. How do I know which insurance structure fits my company best?
   It depends on your organisation’s set-up. A centralised business with uniform global operations may benefit from a Master policy, while decentralised companies with varied local risks often require stand-alone solutions. Meijers analyses your risk profile and helps determine the optimal mix.
2. What are the advantages of a hybrid insurance programme?
   A hybrid programme offers flexibility. You maintain global consistency and control through a Master policy while allowing local teams to manage region-specific risks. This ensures full coverage without losing local responsiveness.
3.  Why choose Meijers for international risk management?
   Meijers combines Dutch coordination with global reach through the Worldwide Broker Network. We offer tailor-made insurance programmes with transparent insight into costs, risks, and policies—keeping your business resilient and compliant worldwide.