Prudential convenes inaugural Partnership Summit to shape the next era of customer and business growth

Prudential plc, a prominent insurer and asset manager operating in Asia and Africa, convened its inaugural Partnership Summit in Chengdu, China to chart the course for future customer and business growth. The two-day event, themed "Catalyst for the Next Wave," drew over 150 senior leaders from banking and strategic partnerships, including economists, fintech experts, and Prudential executives.

The summit aimed to bolster collaboration, expand capabilities, and spur innovation by examining trends influencing customer expectations and the evolution of financial services. Discussions centered on burgeoning wealth, heightened cross-border mobility, and the increasing interplay of data, artificial intelligence, and human expertise.

Participants deliberated on how stronger partnerships could elevate customer experiences and unlock novel prospects for the next stage of growth. Chengdu, a city with a history dating back over a thousand years, symbolized the importance of trust in partnerships - a principle that has guided Prudential's approach since its establishment.

Dennis Tan, Regional CEO for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar, emphasized that "keeping promises sits at the heart of every partnership for Prudential." The summit underscored the robustness of Prudential's partnership ecosystem and the vast opportunities on the horizon. By pooling distribution expertise, digital prowess, and market insights, Prudential aims to craft superior customer experiences and foster enduring, sustainable growth alongside its partners.

The programme also featured a keynote address by Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's Chief Refereeing Officer, who drew on his extensive experience at the pinnacle of international football to impart wisdom on leadership, accountability, and decisive judgment in unpredictable and swiftly evolving contexts. Prudential's partnership distribution arm has been a cornerstone of the company's growth strategy since the inception of its first strategic bancassurance alliance in 1998.

Today, Prudential boasts one of Asia's most extensive bancassurance networks, encompassing more than 180 banking partnerships across numerous markets. In the first half of 2026, the bancassurance channel generated US$586 million in new business profit, representing a 13% increase (on a constant exchange rate basis) compared to US$505 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.