Question 1

What is AIG?

Accepted Answer

American International Group (AIG) is a multinational insurance company with $53 billion in annual revenue, headquartered in the United States. AIG provides commercial property and casualty insurance, personal insurance, life insurance, and retirement products to individuals and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1919, AIG operates globally across 130+ countries and is known for its financial strength, global network, and specialized expertise in aviation and energy sectors.

Question 2

Who founded AIG and when?

Accepted Answer

AIG was founded by Cornelius Vander Starr in December 1919 in Shanghai, China. Vander Starr, a California native, was just 27 years old when he opened a two-room office as American Asiatic Underwriters (AAU), selling fire and marine insurance to Western expatriate businesses in China. He recognized the insurance opportunity created by China's economic development and international trade expansion.

Question 3

What is the story behind AIG's founding?

Accepted Answer

Cornelius Vander Starr founded AIG in Shanghai after recognizing a gap in the insurance market for Western expatriate businesses operating in China. Starting with a small two-room office, Starr built a regional presence across Asia during the 1920s-1940s, establishing offices in Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, and Tokyo. After WWII, he expanded into the U.S. market by establishing American International Underwriters (AIU) in 1926, eventually consolidating both operations under the AIG name in 1967.

Question 4

How did AIG grow to become a global insurance giant?

Accepted Answer

AIG's transformation into a global powerhouse was driven by Maurice 'Hank' Greenberg, who joined as CEO in 1968. During his 37-year tenure (1968-2005), Greenberg aggressively expanded AIG through acquisitions, product innovation, and international expansion to 130+ countries, growing the company to over $100 billion in annual revenue. Greenberg diversified AIG's portfolio beyond traditional insurance to include commercial insurance, life insurance, retirement products, aircraft leasing, and consumer finance.

Question 5

What products and services does AIG offer?

Accepted Answer

AIG offers a comprehensive portfolio of insurance and financial products including commercial property and casualty insurance, personal insurance coverage, life insurance, and retirement products. The company specializes in serving various industries with tailored solutions, including aviation insurance and energy sector insurance. AIG's current strategy focuses on these core commercial and personal insurance offerings while undergoing digital transformation to modernize its service delivery.

Question 6

What happened to AIG during the 2008 financial crisis?

Accepted Answer

During the 2008 financial crisis, AIG faced a near-collapse when its Financial Products division lost over $100 billion on credit default swaps (CDS) on mortgage-backed securities without adequate collateral. When the housing market collapsed, AIG faced insolvency with margin calls threatening to trigger counterparty failures across the global financial system. The Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury provided an emergency $182 billion bailout package (loans and equity purchases), eventually giving the government 92% ownership of the company.

Question 7

Did AIG repay the government bailout?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AIG fully repaid the $182 billion government bailout by 2012, completing its exit from government ownership. The government sold its remaining shares by 2012, generating a $22.7 billion profit for taxpayers. This repayment marked a significant turnaround for the company and validated the government's decision to prevent AIG's collapse, which would have triggered widespread financial system failure.

Question 8

How has AIG changed since the 2008 financial crisis?

Accepted Answer

Following the financial crisis, AIG underwent a major restructuring that simplified its business model and strengthened risk management. The company divested non-core businesses including ILFC aircraft leasing, Alico life insurance, and AIA Asian life insurance, refocusing on commercial property/casualty insurance and life/retirement products. AIG also installed new leadership, improved underwriting discipline, and enhanced regulatory compliance to prevent future crises.

Question 9

What are AIG's competitive advantages in the insurance market?

Accepted Answer

AIG's key competitive advantages include its extensive global network operating in 130+ countries, strong brand recognition (despite crisis-related reputation damage), and specialized expertise in aviation and energy insurance sectors. The company leverages its financial strength, established client relationships, and deep industry knowledge to differentiate itself from competitors like Zurich, Chubb, and Allianz. AIG's post-crisis restructuring has also resulted in improved risk management and operational discipline.

Question 10

What industries and customers does AIG serve?

Accepted Answer

AIG serves a diverse range of industries and customer segments including manufacturing, shipping, aviation, energy, real estate, and financial services. The company provides insurance solutions to multinational corporations, mid-market businesses, and individuals worldwide. AIG's specialized expertise in aviation and energy insurance makes it particularly valuable for clients in those sectors with complex risk management needs.

Question 11

How can businesses and individuals get started with AIG insurance?

Accepted Answer

Businesses and individuals can get started with AIG by contacting the company through its website or local offices in over 130 countries. AIG's insurance professionals work with clients to assess their specific risk management needs and develop customized insurance solutions. The company offers various product types including commercial property/casualty, personal insurance, life insurance, and retirement products tailored to different customer segments.

Question 12

What are AIG's key strengths and capabilities?

Accepted Answer

AIG's key strengths include financial stability ($53 billion annual revenue), extensive global reach, specialized expertise in complex risks (aviation, energy), and sophisticated underwriting capabilities. The company has invested heavily in digital transformation to modernize its operations and improve customer experience. AIG also benefits from experienced risk management teams and established relationships with major corporate clients across multiple industries.

Question 13

How does AIG ensure security and trustworthiness?

Accepted Answer

AIG prioritizes financial strength and regulatory compliance, having completely repaid its government bailout and maintained strict underwriting discipline since 2008. The company operates under rigorous federal and international insurance regulatory oversight, including capital requirements and risk management standards. AIG's post-crisis restructuring significantly strengthened its risk management processes and installed leadership focused on accountability and sustainable profitability rather than aggressive financial engineering.

Question 14

What challenges is AIG currently facing?

Accepted Answer

AIG faces several challenges including technology modernization of legacy systems, talent retention in a competitive market, and elevated regulatory scrutiny remaining from the financial crisis. The company is actively addressing these through digital transformation initiatives and organizational improvements. Additionally, AIG must compete with modern insurers and digital-native competitors while managing its reputation legacy from the 2008 crisis.

Question 15

What is AIG's vision for the future?

Accepted Answer

AIG's future strategy emphasizes focused operations on commercial property/casualty insurance and life/retirement products, with significant investment in digital transformation. The company aims to enhance customer experience through technology modernization, improve operational efficiency, and maintain its position as a leading global insurer. AIG is committed to rebuilding and strengthening its reputation as a financially stable and responsible insurance provider, leveraging its heritage and global expertise.

AIG

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is AIG?

Who founded AIG and when?

What is the story behind AIG's founding?

How did AIG grow to become a global insurance giant?

What products and services does AIG offer?

What happened to AIG during the 2008 financial crisis?

Did AIG repay the government bailout?

How has AIG changed since the 2008 financial crisis?

What are AIG's competitive advantages in the insurance market?

What industries and customers does AIG serve?

How can businesses and individuals get started with AIG insurance?

What are AIG's key strengths and capabilities?

How does AIG ensure security and trustworthiness?

What challenges is AIG currently facing?

What is AIG's vision for the future?

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