Golden Jubilee

YACHTING | 2023

Leading insurance broker celebrates 50th birthday. In an interview with Streifzug, Sandra Ahrabian, CEO and company owner of BAVARIA AG, explains her recipe for success.

Streifzug: Anyone who has been insuring yachts for 50 years is bound to have a few anecdotes to share. When you look at the history of your company – what are your milestones or strongest memories?
Sandra Ahrabian: I still remember the atmosphere when my father set up the company – with typewriter, dial telephone, even full ashtrays were part of it. He sailed with my mother on the Bavarian lakes, met other owners and actually always came home with new leads. This was so successful that my father concentrated on boat insurance from then on and increased his customer base from week to week, so to speak. The accident of the “Golden Eye”, which fell out of the crane just before the exhibition “boot Düsseldorf”, was a real turning point. We had insured the 35-metre yacht and settled the claim very quickly. This brought us attention in the press all over the world, and as a result we received a lot of inquiries for large yachts.

Streifzug: Where does BAVARIA AG stand today? And what are your plans for the coming years?
Sandra Ahrabian: We have a portfolio of well over 50,000 policies in the yacht and aircraft insurance segment and achieve a very good annual turnover in the double-digit millions; our business is growing at a double-digit rate per year. More than 200 agents throughout Europe recommend BAVARIA AG’s insurance cover, and experts are on hand at all strategically important locations in yachting in the event of a claim.

Streifzug: So surviving on the market for a long time also means adapting again and again?
Sandra Ahrabian: First of all, of course, you need excellent products and excellent employees. But it’s true; every successful company has to adapt again and again. We will position BAVARIA AG even more sustainably where we already are today – as a leader in Europe for the next 50 years.