Fernando Campos (Madrid, 49 years old) is the top executive of the insurance company DKV, a subsidiary of the German giant Munich Re. The manager, who took up the position a year and a half ago, has spent his entire working life working for multinationals (Aon, Cigna, BUPA-Sanitas, Principal Financial Group, PwC…). From his office on Avenida de Concha Espina in Madrid, he manages a team of 900 people, while trying to combine his work with caring for his four children, aged between nine and 14. Ask. How do you combine your managerial responsibilities with taking care of your family? Answer. Doing tightrope walking. Always looking for balance. Above all, with the management of my agenda, teams and self-management. You have to constantly decide what you prioritize. And learn to say no.P. When do you see your four children? A. I try to see them at least once a day. Almost always at night, for dinner. If one day I haven’t been able to, I try to see them in the morning.P. Some example of these balances…R. My eldest daughter studies in London and is coming to Madrid to spend a few days. On Thursday I have to go to an event with managers in Zaragoza. So I found time in my schedule to have lunch with her and a friend on Thursday. You have to compensate. Q. And on weekends? A. I try to always keep them clear, for the family. But sometimes I have trips. To Dusseldorf, to Thailand, to San Francisco… and I have to travel on Sunday. Or they give me a dinner with group executives on a Friday in Munich. Q. What else have you had to give up? A. It’s been years since I’ve had a few beers with friends during the week. From Monday to Friday, I’m either working or with my family.Q. Will he have a hobby…R. I am very sporty. My father died young, from a heart attack, and I am very aware of the importance of taking care of one’s health.P. When do you make time? A. I get up at six in the morning, or even earlier. And at seven I’m in the gym doing functional training. I try to do it between four and five days a week. I also like to play tennis.Q. Do you make time to read or watch series? A. I am always reading various books on business management. I also watch some series, but mostly when I’m traveling. Almost never daily, because they are very addictive. Like social networks.P. Can a CEO give his opinion on politics? A. It shouldn’t. Within a multinational it is something unthinkable. I have my ideology and my criteria, logically. But, as a manager, I owe it to my company. I can’t be left or right.P. A manager is also a citizen…R. In this regard, I think it is better not to highlight, to avoid misunderstandings. I have voted for practically all parties throughout my life. I’m sure many would make a mistake trying to guess who I voted for last time. It’s easy to be prejudiced. In general, I am very critical of politicians. I think the majority are not up to par. Q. Health insurers are often at the center of political fray. As with the case of Muface. A. What I defend is that we have a fantastic healthcare system as a whole and that private healthcare perfectly complements public healthcare. When it is said that the two models are incompatible, it is to provoke and confront.P. Why did you decide to switch from Aon to DKV? A. One of the things that attracted me the most is that they were looking for someone under 50 years old. On the one hand, it is a sign that they love a person for many years. Furthermore, it indicates that they are committed to generational change.P. Do you miss that relief in other companies? A. Yes. In Spain there is a clear tendency to perpetuate oneself in power. This blocks the arrival of new generations to command positions. I want to contribute to changing this dynamic. We must learn to give opportunities to young people and we must also learn to leave places on time. Q. Some will complain about ageism…A. Senior talent is very valuable and we cannot waste it. There is much to be done in developing mentoring programs for senior managers. But it is not reasonable that some areas are dominated by managers who are 65, 70 years old. Or even older. in my group [Munich Re] They have just appointed a CEO who is only 52 years old.Q. How do the managers of other group subsidiaries see Spain? A. They love the country. Because of the climate, the gastronomy, the quality of life… Furthermore, the level of Spanish managers is highly valued. We are a country that exports talent. Of course, they are surprised that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is given so little importance here. You can read the rest of the interviews in this section here
