Just about everyone in Luxembourg’s business world is familiar with 's career. It's a career punctuated by big names and places of influence: Lalux - which remains the Luxembourgeoise for many - the Luxembourg Central Bank (BCL), Saint-Paul, BIP Investment Partners, Fondation de Luxembourg, Automobile Club Luxembourg, Lafayette, Spuerkeess, the Luxembourg insurance regulator CAA, Luxembourg insurers trade association Aca, Doctena, Vauban Participations, Fondation Ste Zithe, to name but the most emblematic.

In 2006, when he made his first appearance in the top decile of the Paperjam Top 100 list of Luxembourg's most influential economic decision-makers, he confessed to having been surprised. "I didn't necessarily see myself there. As the years go by, I don't want to say that you get used to it, but it's less of a surprise."

He attributes this distinction above all to "the recognition of our group's positioning and its interaction with Luxembourg society. As insurers, we contribute to the functioning of society. We make risk-taking possible, which is essential to any development. As a household name, you are known to a wide audience. I am probably more visible than others because of my role, my character or my nature. But this recognition comes from the people around me. It's also a source of pride. But right now, I'm saying to myself: 'I hope I'm not at the top of the ranking', because I'd be very embarrassed". Why? "Other people whom I respect a lot, who have roles similar to mine, deserve it just as much. I've never considered myself to be superior to others..."

Not a personal strategy

He became an influential leader involuntarily... Developing a network of influence was never "a personal strategy”, he said. "Rather, it stemmed from my way of being, my interest in other people and in a certain number of subjects. It's all connected. Over the years, in an atmosphere of constant emulation, you build up several networks and a nucleus in which you exchange ideas with those close to you. And, in my case, you end up having influence without really having sought it. Afterwards, when you have convictions, when you are faced with issues that you consider essential, then you take active steps to be heard. Not listened to, heard."

So what is influence, according to Hentgen? Influence means being listened to by the people involved in decision-making. And to be listened to, you need to have something to say. And to do that, you need to have a vision for society. When you have good arguments, they are always taken into account in one way or another". Hentgen sees influence as something external to the company, because within it "we have a power that stems directly from our position". He said: “”ou can have influence over people who have power, a natural authority, and that suits me just as well as exercising a power that would be attributed to me. Influence is more subtle than power. Influence suits me better than power.”

Serving society

Influence obviously applies to the economic sphere, to defending the interests of the insurance sector. But it is also, and above all according to Hentgen, societal. His cause? "Solidarity in our society is something I believe is essential, especially given the marked development of individualistic tendencies, where people ask for solidarity without wanting to give it." Through the La Luxembourgeoise foundation, his group took part in the takeover of Caritas' activities at Hëllef um Terrain. It was “a takeover that has enabled our society to continue to show solidarity with the most disadvantaged. So that's very consistent with our values. It's solidarity in a different form.”

Career

Pit Hentgen was born in 1961. After a spell at BGL, he joined the family group, La Luxembourgeoise, in 1998. He is currently managing director of the financial holding company La Luxembourgeoise and chairman of the insurer Lalux. He sits on a number of boards of directors and is involved in several charitable associations.

A keen sportsman

Until the age of 40, Pit Hentgen played volleyball and took part in numerous competitions. It was “a parallel universe to the professional world".

Caught up in culture

While music has always been a part of his life, he has now opened up to art in general, "without being a collector", and to architecture. It was the construction of Lalux's headquarters in Leudelange, which he personally supervised, that opened his eyes.

This article was originally published in the  print edition of , published on 11 December 2024. 

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