QBE Insurance Signs Contract With SkyRise Realty

Australian based insurance company QBE Insurance Limited, signed a contract with Cebu real estate firm SkyRise Realty & Development Corporation for the occupancy of their Cebu office.

QBE will occupy majority of the floors of the 12-storey SkyRise Alpha–four storeys from the 10th floor to the Roof Deck.

Joining the SkyRise team during the contract signing last February 10 at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel were QBE Executive General Manager Karen Batungbacal and Group Head for Operational Transformation Mike Emmett. Representatives from SkyRise Realty on the other hand were President Harry John Viloria, Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Viloria, Sales Director Noreli “Olie” Almazan and Architect Errol Lopez Supremo of Studio Supremo.

Viloria and SkyRise CEO Jennifer Viloria.  (Photo by Mary Jane Catriz)

SkyRise Alpha is SkyRise Realty’s current project outside their Cebu I.T. Park buildings–SkyRise 1, 2, 3 and 4–a known home to many international and local BPO companies. According to the male Viloria, not long before SkyRise Alpha will be completed on April this year, shall rise its annex–the SkyRise Beta. Both buildings are situated at the Cebu Business Park.

QBE Insurance, ranking one of the top 15 insurance companies in the world, has presence in the Philippines for three years employing 1,000 staff in their Manila office. It is a huge insurance company that focuses on commercial and corporate insurance policies. Emmett said during an interview that they chose Cebu to house their major center next to Manila, because of the city’s rapid development and strategic location.

Globally, QBE has 18,000 employees and is present in 52 countries namely in the Asia Pacific region, America, Canada, and Europe. During the interview, the insurance’s executives also said that it is only Philippines which provdies support to the other QBE offices around the world. Emmett said that the Cebu office hopes to employ 600 people in the next 18 months of their operations on April this year, expanding to 900 should there be more qualified individuals.

QBE Executive GM Karen Batungbacal and Emmett. (Photo by Mary Jane Catriz)

QBE Insurance puts premium on their workforce which yields services and products at its sophistication. The company creates an atmosphere where empowerment, open-mindedness, quality, applied business acumen and excellence among all employees are ensured. Not only that, QBE Insurance values the attitude “fun in the workplace”, trait essential for an organization to thrive.

Photo above: QBE Group Head for Operational Transformation Mike Emmett (left) and SkyRise Realty & Development President Harry John Viloria (right) shake hands after the contract signing, which was witnessed by the representatives of the latter’s partner realtor. (Photo by Mary Mary Jane Catriz)