Staying true to the Helvetia brand

Roman Furger’s career as a professional cross-country skier came to an end in March 2023. Roman Furger has no regrets about swapping his racing suit for that of a customer advisor. “Helvetia is a cool brand. I was always proud to wear the Helvetia logo.” This partnership with Team Helvetia has lasted for over 14 years. Their collaboration will now continue, albeit in a different form.

A valuable addition to the Davos main agency

When he heard that professional cross-country skier Roman Furger was retiring, General Agent Andrea Zinsli was quick to act. He contacted the 33-year-old, who comes from the Swiss canton of Uri and lives in Davos, to offer him a position as a customer advisor – to bolster the team at the Davos main agency. “Professional athletes bring with them a great deal of independence and discipline. In addition to specialist knowledge, these are important qualities that are needed when working in customer services,” says Andrea Zinsli. And he knows this from his own personal experience, as he himself made the leap from professional sport to insurance and has Christian Spescha – another ex-professional skier who he is happy to rely on – working on his team. “It’s important to us to help professional athletes transition into the world of work. It’s a win-win situation for both sides.”

Successful career change

What was the career change like for Roman Furger? “Very intense” It was a big change, both physically and mentally,” he says. “I knew nothing about insurance in the beginning, so I had a lot to learn. Over time, I got used to the new routine. And I have to say, the longer I do this job, the more exciting I find it here at Helvetia. I really like it!”

The thing that Roman particularly enjoys is the variety. “Every day is completely different – that’s the cool thing about this job.” He can organise his own time and is always learning something new. He has also noticed a few similarities with cross-country skiing: “You won’t achieve anything in sport unless you train. It’s the same in this job. To be successful, you have to be proactive, reach out to people, engage in marketing and give your customers good advice.”

Do customers know that their advisor is a former professional sportsman? “Yes, of course. It’s part of who I am and it’s often a good opening topic,” says Roman Furger. One of the things he finds most impressive is when his customers tell him about their lives. “They are often touching stories. It shows that they have trust in me.”

Taking a good look at his own insurance situation

As part of his induction, Roman Furger also got to grips with his own insurance and pension situation. He realised that he and his family were not adequately covered. “Fortunately, everything worked out well,” he says. This realisation is something that he talks about during his customer visits, especially when meeting with his colleagues from the world of elite-level sport. “Of course, it’s up to them how much risk they’re willing to bear themselves. But many just don’t understand the extent of it.”

And speaking of elite-level sport: what is it about cross-country skiing that Roman Furger, four-time winner of the Engadin Ski Marathon, finds so fascinating? “Cross-country skiing is a very multifaceted sport that promotes endurance, strength and coordination in equal measure. But cross-country skiing is more than just a sport. Being physically active in nature reduces stress and allows you to leave your everyday life behind. That’s why this sport is ideal for anyone who wants to do outdoor sports in winter.”

Fresh ideas and enthusiasm for new things

At Helvetia, making the switch from other careers is actively encouraged. This is because Helvetia is looking for people who can be relied on, and who challenge and support each other. Anyone joining Helvetia not only brings their experience to the table, but also fresh ideas and enthusiasm for new things – because diversity is what shapes the future. www.helvetia.ch/career