José Manuel Fonseca named “Person of the Year” 
The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in Brazil, an 100-year-old not-for-profit organisation, presented the honour of Person of the Year to the MDS Group Global CEO for his role in furthering relationships and business between Portugal and Brazil. José Manuel’s Fonseca leadership and foresight led the group into the Brazilian market in 2000 and since then the business has continued to expand and MDS Brazil is now one of the top three players in the market.  
With over 30 years’ experience in the insurance and risk management sector, the work laid down by the MDS Group’s Global CEO has also been recognised over the years through a number of national and international awards. In 2018 for example he was named Broker Leader of the Year by the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA), highlighting his work promoting and influencing risk management. 

MDS recognised for its role in Africa 
MDS was awarded the Pedro Cudell Internationalization Prize 2021, in the category — Sociedade para o Financiamento do Desenvolvimento, “Júri’s Special Award” by SOFID (Society for Development Funding), a recognition reserved for those who’ve made particularly notable contributions to the national design of direct investment in the private sector in Africa. 
Since it launched its operation in the region back in 2013, MDS Africa has Since it launched its grown rapidly and is now a leading broker in Angola and other Portuguese-speaking countries, continually looking to add value, share knowledge and further innovation. 

Ariel Couto voted “Executive of the Year”  
The 2021 Insurance Corps Awards presented its Executive of the Year award for the broker category to the CEO of MDS Brazil and Americas Regional Manager of Brokerslink.  
The awards single out the finest players in the Brazilian insurance industry, based on a survey of insurance and reinsurance companies, broking firms and other organisations in the market. The honour recognised Ariel Couto’s leading role in growing and transforming MDS Brazil. 
 

The Ardonagh Group set to complete MDS Group acquisition 
The Ardonagh Group will become the sole shareholder of the MDS Group, through its subsidiary Ardonagh Global Partners, upon completion of the deal announced at the end of 2021, subject to regulatory approval. The fast-growing Global Partners arm was launched in June 2021 to invest in leading platforms operating in markets and product verticals outside of the UK and Europe.  
The acquisition agreement between the UK’s largest independent broking group and Sonae and IPLF Holding will enable MDS to take an important strategic step in the company’s plans to further strengthen its national and international presence in insurance broking and risk management advice. MDS Group’s current management and leadership team will all remain with the business, equipped with new resources and capital, and look forward to accelerating the business’s organic and inorganic growth plans.  
The Ardonagh Group, which is amongst the world’s 20 largest insurance broking groups, has revenues surpassing $1.5bn and employs about 8,000 people in over 100 offices. 

Toyota Tsusho Insurance Broker partners with MDS Brazil  
MDS Brazil will take over the management of all of Toyota Tsusho's benefits and auto retail business following the deal between the two companies. In addition to operational management of the insurance policies, MDS Brazil will also provide commercial support and offer new services to the broker’s customer base.  
Ariel Couto, CEO of MDS Brazil, and Americas Regional Manager at Brokerslink commented: ”Value alignment between the two companies was fundamental to this agreement and we are focused on delivering a very high quality service to the broker and its customers.” Toyota Tsusho Insurance Broker is part of The Toyota Tshusho Corporation which operates in Brazil and 13 other countries with 20 insurance branches and is connected to the service area of Toyota Motor Corporation. 

MDS Group remains focused on growth  
Over the past few years, the MDS Group has been focused on expansion, through a mixture of organic growth and through pursuing M&A opportunities under plans to bolster its competitive edge and add value to the group’s offerings in the many locations where it operates. 
 In Brazil, MDS acquired QH Consult, a company with over 20 years’ experience in the education sector, operating in 21 states and handling insurance for over 700,000 students. The acquisition propelled MDS to a leading position in this segment, with a broad portfolio of insurance and financial solutions for schools and higher education institutions in a market where penetration is still low. 
The acquisition of Tovese, the largest agribusiness broker in Rio Grande do Sul, consolidated MDS’s operations in the Brazilian agricultural sector, capitalising on the knowledge and expertise they bring to the table.  
In 2022, MDS invested in Credrisk — a company specialising in credit insurance, risk management and working capital solutions, with premiums over R$ 100bn in 2021, which leverages gains in scale, reach and value generation for both brands in a market segment that grew 40% over Q1 2021 year-on-year. 
In Portugal, MDS also acquired a majority stake in the mediation company, Média Mais with head offices at Marinha Grande, handling premiums in excess of Euros 4m. With over 25 years in the business and remarkable experience in the industrial sector, and with service and exports companies, this acquisition will boost MDS’s positioning and offerings. 
 With the acquisition of the Segurtime, a mediation company established in 2002, MDS increased its footprint in central Portugal. Segurtime handles insurance premiums in excess of Euros 98m and has over ten thousand customers from sectors as varied as recycling, ceramics, molds, furniture, metal working, construction and public works. 
 

MDS Brazil begins partnership with Caixa Seguridade  
The partnership between the two companies aims for insurance broking, bringing auto insurance products to customers of CAIXA Econômica Federal alongside other solutions for the bank's customers and the market at large. 
 "This partnership will allow us to keep growing our market penetration and introduce insurance products through this channel," says Thomaz Tescaro, Vice-President of Affinity & Bancassurance at MDS Brazil.  
Operating in pensions, capitalization, consortia, and insurance, Caixa Seguridade is one of the fastest growing bancassurance organizations in Brazil and the third largest insurance group in the country. 

Strategic partnership with the digital Banco Best  
An agreement between Banco Best, a specialist in banking, asset management and trading, based in Portugal, and MDS, will enable the banking institution to offer a wide range of insurance options through a single channel using an open-architecture logic.  
Customers will also benefit from MDS’s technical expertise, understanding of the market, and in-house capabilities in technology and operations, to deliver and advise on solutions best suited to Banco Best’s customers’ risk profile, be they individuals or organisations. 

MDS Global Risk Perspectives launched  
In 2021, MDS added another avenue to its knowledge-sharing mission, launching Global Risk Perspectives, a monthly bilingual newsletter that provides a broad view of international events from numerous angles, including geopolitics, economics, environmental issues, and risk, matters of the utmost importance in an increasingly interconnected world.  
One of the specialist contributors is Bernardo Pires de Lima, a university professor who specialises in geopolitics and international relations. Read all the articles here 

Always pursuing innovation  
Over the last few years, MDS has made continual investments in technological innovation in order to keep pace with digital transformation, a strategy which has resulted in the implementation of more efficient, streamlined processes, and resulted in the launch of new, entirely digital products — such as 24/7 digital tools like the MDS App, or Will, its virtual assistant, a chat and Whatsapp bot — as well as ecosystem integration, always driven by a desire to improve the customer experience.  
MDS’ successful transformation strategy was lauded internationally last year through a nomination for “Broker Innovation of the Year” at FERMA’s European Risk Management Awards and, nationally, through Portugal Digital Awards 2021, which singled out the MDS App. 

Reinventing spaces for a post-pandemic future 
In 2021 MDS invested further in new office space to meet the need for scalability whilst prioritising quality, well-being, comfort, technology, and sustainability. In addition to open-plan working spaces MDS created informal spaces for sharing, meeting, and debating that will stimulate connectivity and creativity within and between teams.  
The building includes a panoramic rooftop that will be used as an educational space for leisure and work — out in the open, safe, with a great view to the city — for the benefit of employees, customers and partners, affording them the opportunity to socialise and pursue leisure activities. The space is also adorned with a number of decorative elements, including an installation by Portuguese young artist Rosinda Casais, Divisão Sonora. 
MDS has maintained organic growth and expanded its brand and presence on Portuguese soil, with an eye on closeness, opening new branch offices and stores in key locations, providing them with everything they need to guarantee toptier service for customers. 
 

Miguel Ramos driving forward with MDS  
In 2021, having triumphed at the GT Open 2020, Miguel Ramos set his sights on the FANATEC GT World Challenge Europe, a contest run by the SRO Motorsport Group. At the wheel of his Lamborghini Huracan GT3 from Barwell Motorsport, once again supported by MDS, the Portuguese driver had another great season, bringing three awards home: Pro-AM Global Champion, Pro-AM Sprint Champion as well as the team title for Barwell at Pro-AM. Miguel Ramos also had the opportunity to join two events (four races) of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo in Zandvoort and Nurburgring, having earned one poleposition, two wins and one third place.