People, expertise and innovation at the heart of AU Group

At AU Group, History blends with the Future

As a longstanding credit insurance broker, AU Group has always prioritised people, expertise, and innovation at the core of its development strategy. This distinctive approach has helped the group retain its employees.

AU Group is a broking and consulting firm and, since its founding in 1929, it has maintained its 100% family shareholding. Our mission is to advise and support its clients through the insurance and financing of trade receivables (credit insurance, political risk, bonding, factoring) as well as the management of accounts receivable (management tools). “While we operate in a highly volatile sector, our ownership structure guarantees stability, particularly for our employees,” notes Vivien de Lassée, Chief Executive Officer of AU Group. “Nevertheless, the company continues to grow, both organically and through acquisitions, always staying in tune with market needs.”

A Group with International Presence

Over the past 25 years, AU Group has grown significantly. After opening its first subsidiary in Spain in 2000, is now present in 50 countries. Today, AU Group has 260 experts, with over a third working internationally. “Thanks to this growth and our current organisation, we can meet the needs of all our clients” continues Vivien de Lassée.

A Family Business that looks at the future

To best support its clients, AU Group continuously innovates. As part of this approach, the company recently developed a digital platform that allows clients to :  manage their credit insurance policies, automate payment reminders with a factor, and source financial information. This is the most advanced platform on the market for credit management.

Employees: AU Group’s Added Value

“Our value proposition relies on employing staff who are true experts in their field, hence our commitment to supporting them throughout their professional journey within the company,” highlights Lydia Budimir, HR Director of AU Group France. “AU Group staff support their clients on a daily basis. They need to understand their clients’ businesses and do all that is possible to support their growth, minimise bad debts and improve their profitability.” Given that employees are AU Group’s strength, recruitment is crucial. “We ensure the smooth integration and well-being of new hires into our company. We place particular emphasis on onboarding” This approach includes an induction programme where the new staff are made awake of  all company the functions, and the managers explain the vision and strategy. “With a strong corporate culture, we have also developed mentoring. An experienced employee helps the new entrant understand AU Group’s activities, and coaches them on both personal and professional development aspects. We have a structure where human contact is key and communication is simple,” adds Lydia Budimir.

“We support our clients in their sale activity and, in parallel, our employees in their growth. Maintaining our expertise requires regular knowledge updates and we help our employees enhance their skills through professional training, mastery of digital tools, development of soft skills, and by offering them cross-functional projects. Our organisation also provides various career advancement and internal mobility opportunities. As part of our international development, we have, for example, implemented an International Volunteer Programme (IVE) for one of our French employees. ‘I spent 12 months in our subsidiary in Argentina, which not only allowed me to improve my Spanish and discover a different culture but also to Introduce new working methods to achieve global consistency in our operations. I returned even more motivated!’ says Morgane after completing her IVE. A win-win experience, which is what we aim to foster at AU Group.

Lastly, we would highlight the official launch of our CSR policy in 2023, with commitments that resonate with many employees. Respect for people and the management of natural resources are now key issues for developing a sustainable world and economy. In line with our DNA and values, we are fully committed to this approach. Our employees are actively involved and help us define and promote a global CSR policy, notably through the implementation of local sponsors.