News

Interview

Ateshgah: More Than a Career, a Calling 

Introduction: Today we are speaking with Ruslan Aliyev, a person whose personal story has become remarkably intertwined with the history of our company. In this special interview, we discuss diplomacy, friendship, development stages of the Ateshgah Insurance Group (hereinafter “AIG” or “Ateshgah”), the generational shift in management, and a look toward the future.

Question: It is often said that there is no such thing as a coincidence. There is a striking fact in your biography that links your childhood to the company's current office. Tell us about it.

Answer: Yes, it truly feels like a sign of destiny. I was born in Moscow, but in 1977 my father was transferred to serve in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and our whole family moved to Baku. Remarkably, we were allocated an apartment in a building in the Old City (Icherisheher), at 16 V. Mammadov Street. That is exactly where one of Ateshgah's offices is located today.

This is where I spent my childhood and youth. In 1980, I started first grade at School No. 6, from which I graduated in 1990. From there, I left for Moscow to enroll at MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations). As it turns out, these walls became my home back in childhood, long before our company established itself here. That is why having our office in this building feels, to me, like a return to my roots.

Question: Your career path began in diplomacy. How did you make the transition from international politics to insurance?

Answer: After graduating in 1996, I fulfilled my dream by becoming a diplomat, starting my tenure at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Russian Federation. It was a wonderful time that brought me together with people who became lifelong companions. It was there that I met Namig Khalilov and Sevinj Mammadova. We have been friends for many years, and they are also my colleagues, helping to develop both our company and the insurance market as a whole, something I'm very proud of.

Alongside my work at the embassy, I enrolled in a postgraduate program. My academic interest lay in the field of economics and risk, and I began writing a dissertation on a topic related to insurance. Ultimately, it was academia that led me into this business.

Question: You were directly involved in reshaping the market and bringing it up to high international standards. Tell us how your path crossed with Ateshgah at that stage.

Answer: That happened in 1997. As part of my work on a PhD dissertation on insurance, my academic supervisor Capitolina Tourbina and I came to Baku to study the local market. That was when I first met Intigam Huseynov, the General Director of Ateshgah, along with many other industry players, including the then head of Azerbaijan's Insurance Supervisory Authority, Azer Jafarov, who still holds a position in our company today. 

That trip proved pivotal: it not only helped me successfully defend my dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences, but also laid the foundation for future collaboration.

Question: When exactly did you officially join the company?

Answer: In the 1990s, I could never have imagined how closely fate would bind me to Ateshgah and the insurance business. But after yet another meeting, this time while vacationing in Karlovy Vary in 1999, Intigam Huseynov made me an offer I could not refuse: to put my academic knowledge into practice.

I was delighted at the opportunity. So in March 2000, I moved from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan to SOCAR, taking the position of Deputy Head of the Foreign Investment Department for Insurance and Risk Management. That's how I came to work under the leadership of legendary Valeh Alasgarov. It was a unique school. From him, I learned to think strategically, to see the full picture behind day-to-day tasks, and to never lower the bar for myself or for the team.

Since at that time SOCAR was also one of Ateshgah's shareholders, I was simultaneously appointed as SOCAR's representative at Ateshgah.

Question: Looking back, how would you describe the company's evolution over the years?

Answer: It is impossible to describe everything that has been accomplished in a single interview. For those interested in the details, I would recommend speaking with the architects of this history — many of whom are fortunately still with us: Intigam Huseynov, Namig Khalilov, Natig Amirjanov, Fuad Sultanov, Mamedali Huseynov, Ayla Mustafayeva, Tahir Kazimov, and many others.

I would also like to warmly acknowledge the contribution of our Russian friends and colleagues — Vladimir Solovyov, Ekaterina Shebarova, and Igor Smaga. At different times, they held key executive positions in our company and made an invaluable contribution to its growth, bringing in advanced expertise and new approaches.

Broadly speaking, I divide Ateshgah's history into three major stages:

1. 1996–2008 — The emergence of corporate insurance. This was the era when we were building an insurance culture for large businesses, working with our first key clients in the energy and industrial sectors.
2. 2009–2020 — Development of retail. We brought insurance to the people and made it accessible to the mass market. Here, the role of Talat Safarov deserves special recognition. It was under his leadership that Ateshgah achieved a genuine breakthrough in this area and became a leading company in the retail insurance market. During the same period, Azer Aliyev, as head of the Azerbaijan Insurers Association, made a major contribution to the development of the country’s insurance market as a whole.
3. 2021–Present — Becoming a universal player. We are now shaping the third stage: establishing AIG as a universal, professional leader in direct insurance, and in the future, in reinsurance as well.

Question: We are currently in the active phase of implementing our three-year strategy (2025–2027). What key milestones would you highlight?

Answer: We have a very clear plan.

• 2025 became a year of fundamental change: we began reforming the Claims Settlement division and created a new, modern office for this function. We approved a new strategy for further digitalization, and we launched an internal training system.
• In 2026, the focus is shifting to products and talent. Major projects lie ahead in CASCO, voluntary medical insurance, and life insurance. Building on that foundation, we are expanding our internal employee training program and entering into a strategic partnership with the CII (the Chartered Insurance Institute). This emphasis is no accident. Ateshgah has traditionally placed enormous importance on talent development. We take pride in being a talent incubator for the insurance market. Many of our specialists later contribute to other sectors of the economy and even to government institutions.
• By 2027, once we have refined our processes and underwriting to perfection, we will be able to confidently offer reinsurance services to partners both domestically and internationally.

Question: In the context of these ambitious plans, you made a decision that surprised many: to step down from the Board of Directors and pass the baton. What prompted this move?

Answer: It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for fourteen consecutive years, from 2011 to 2025, and my decision was driven by an inner sense that the time was right for renewal. I am convinced that any strong organization must make way for a new generation of leaders at the right moment.

By stepping down, I also wanted to set an example for other executives: one must prepare a successor in time and transition to other roles. A career path does not always have to be a vertical climb; you can and should pursue horizontal development as well, finding new ways to apply your strengths and experience.

Today, the company has formed a team of professionals with new energy and a modern outlook, and I believe it is important to support this process by stepping back from operational governance within the Board.

Question: What role do you see the new Board members playing in the company's future development?

Answer: I have high expectations for them. The new Board members — Sadikh Mansurov, Konul Isgandarova, Ayla Mustafayeva, and our invited independent director Murad Ragimov — represent a blend of youth, experience, and professionalism. They bring a fresh perspective, modern management approaches, and strong motivation to the company. Their involvement creates a solid foundation for further growth and helps the company adapt to new market challenges.

At the same time, our esteemed colleagues Namig Khalilov and Azer Aliyev, drawing on their many years of experience, have become Chairmen of the Boards of Directors within the Group’s companies. This structure ensures continuity and strategic depth.

Question: The market is competitive. What does Ateshgah need to remain in the top three?

Answer: We must preserve what has already proven its effectiveness — our traditions. And, of course, we must strictly adhere to our Mission and Vision. They are more relevant today than ever:"To provide people and businesses with inclusive and reliable financial protection." That is our compass.

Question: On a personal note: what does Ateshgah mean to you today?

Answer: For me, Ateshgah is a platform for realizing three core pillars in life: continuous personal development, service to society, and worthy representation of my country on the international stage. I have all of this thanks to our company.

Question: What do you dream of?

Answer: I dream of seeing the insurance market grow — both professionally and in scale. I dream of AIG not merely growing alongside it, but being the locomotive of that growth, constantly improving and staying among the leaders.

I dream that one of my children will choose this path, master this fascinating and multifaceted profession of insurance and carry on the work I started.

And finally, I dream that, for however much time the Almighty grants me, I will continue to participate in the development of our company and enjoy our collective success until the end of my days.

Amen!