For COSMOS Insurance, insurance goes beyond an insurance policy. It means being present, caring, and providing meaningful support to society and its people.
In an interview with Philenews, the Company’s CEO, Kyriakos Tyllis, discusses COSMOS Insurance’s social role and the philosophy behind the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives it has consistently supported over the years.
COSMOS Insurance has developed a particularly active Corporate Social Responsibility strategy in recent years. How does the Company’s philosophy on insurance connect with giving back to society and supporting vulnerable groups?
For us, insurance is not simply a contract. At its core, it is a promise that we will be there for people when they need us most. This philosophy cannot stop at the boundaries of our insurance activities.
We want COSMOS Insurance to play an active role in the society in which it has operated for decades. That is why we choose to support initiatives that address genuine needs and provide meaningful assistance to people or groups who require support.
For us, social responsibility is a natural extension of the very concept of security: protection, care and presence when there is a need.
Through your cooperation with the Municipality of Nicosia in supporting and protecting stray animals, COSMOS Insurance highlights an aspect of social responsibility that is not often seen in the insurance sector. What motivated you to invest in this initiative, and what have been the most important outcomes so far?
We do not believe that a company should limit its social contribution only to areas directly connected with its business activities. Animal welfare is an issue that concerns society as a whole. After all, animals, whether stray or not, are part of our society.
Our cooperation with the Municipality of Nicosia began precisely with this thought: that we could make a practical contribution to a genuine social need while also helping to give greater visibility to the issue of protecting stray animals.
What I consider particularly important is that, through such partnerships, you do not only provide practical assistance. You also contribute to changing attitudes. When more people are informed, become more aware and understand that responsible behaviour towards animals is a shared responsibility, you begin to create change that can have a lasting impact.
Animal welfare is closely linked to the culture and quality of life of a society. Do you believe businesses can play a meaningful role in fostering a more responsible attitude towards animal welfare?
Absolutely. Businesses today have both the ability and the means to influence the public. They have people, resources, communication channels and access to large sections of society. This creates a significant responsibility, which should be used appropriately.
This does not mean that a business can solve a social issue on its own. It can, however, make a meaningful contribution when it works together with local authorities, organisations and people who have in-depth knowledge of the issue.
In the case of animal welfare, I believe it is particularly important to cultivate values such as respect, responsibility and proper care from an early age. The way a society treats animals says a great deal about its level of compassion and social awareness, and we can all contribute towards improving this.
The work of Hope For Children addresses an extremely sensitive and important issue: the protection and welfare of children. What does supporting such an organisation mean to you, and what message would you like to convey to society through this partnership?
When we talk about children, we are talking about an area where there can be no compromises. Every child has the right to grow up in a safe environment, to be protected, to be heard and to have the opportunities they need to develop.
The work carried out by the Hope For Children CRC Policy Center is particularly important because it stands by children and families during especially difficult times and addresses issues that require specialised knowledge, consistency and a great deal of sensitivity.
Through our support, our first objective is to strengthen this important work. At the same time, we want to convey a broader message: that protecting children is not solely the responsibility of organisations or the relevant authorities. It concerns all of us.
As citizens and as businesses, we have a responsibility not to remain indifferent. That is why we also seek to support their work whenever we can.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Cyprus supports families going through difficult circumstances due to the hospitalisation of their children. What does participating in this initiative mean for COSMOS Insurance, and how do you view the concept of “hospitality and care” through Corporate Social Responsibility?
Anyone who has been close to a family dealing with a serious health issue involving a child knows that, at that moment, everything changes. Everyday needs that we normally take for granted can suddenly become extremely difficult.
The ability of a family to remain close to their child during hospitalisation is enormously important. Ronald McDonald House Charities Cyprus provides precisely this kind of meaningful support.
For us, care in this context takes on a very specific meaning: helping make it possible for a parent to remain beside their child when their presence is needed most. It may sound simple, but in difficult moments, that presence can mean everything.
We are tremendously proud to be a long-standing supporter of RMHC Cyprus through the adoption of our own room, and we are deeply moved every time we are informed that the COSMOS room has been used by families who need it.
At a time when many companies implement CSR initiatives, how do you ensure that your actions have a meaningful and long-term social impact rather than being limited to symbolic gestures?
I believe the main difference lies in consistency. A one-off initiative can certainly have value, but real impact is created when there is continuity, cooperation and a clear purpose.
That is why we do not want to select initiatives simply because they may have communications or promotional appeal. We look at where there is a genuine need, which organisation can make meaningful use of our support and how we can build a relationship that is not temporary or occasional.
I also believe it is extremely important to listen to the organisations themselves. They understand the needs that exist better than anyone. Our role is not to tell them what society needs, but to listen to them and identify how we can genuinely be useful.
Looking to the future, what is your vision for the social role of COSMOS Insurance in Cyprus? Are there new initiatives or areas you would like to focus on in the coming years for the benefit of society?
We want COSMOS Insurance to continue evolving as a company that measures its success not only through its business results, but also through the relationship it builds with society.
We will continue to focus on areas where we believe we can make a meaningful contribution, such as supporting children and families, social care and animal welfare. At the same time, we remain open to emerging social needs and to partnerships that can create genuine value.
Society is constantly changing, and its needs change with it. I believe a modern business has a responsibility to remain close to these changes, to listen and, whenever it is in a position to help, to do so in a meaningful and lasting way.
If you had to summarise in one sentence what “Beyond Insurance, with Society at the Centre” means for COSMOS Insurance, what would it be?
To stand by people not only when they need us as an insurance company, but whenever we, as an organisation, have the opportunity to make a real difference.
For us, “Always by Your Side” is not just a slogan.
The interview is available on the Philenews website.
