For several years now, CFM Indosuez Wealth Management has been placing health at the heart of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. Virginie Bernard, Head of CSR, gives us a detailed account of the actions taken in favour of health, and talks about the bank's ambitions for sustaining this commitment over the long term.
Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain your role in the company's CSR initiatives?
I have been in charge of CFM Indosuez's CSR policy since 2020, a natural extension of my involvement in this area for over ten years. My role covers various aspects: on the one hand, I am responsible for implementing the climate strategy, which includes managing carbon emissions and the energy transition, and on the other, I oversee social and environmental initiatives. I'm also in charge of sponsorship and philanthropy, in conjunction with the Indosuez Europe Foundation. It's an exciting job that allows me to implement concrete actions that have an impact both on the company and on society as a whole.
This year, CFM Indosuez has placed a strong emphasis on health as part of its CSR policy. Why did you choose this theme and how have you put it into practice through your actions?
We have three main areas of commitment: protection of the oceans, education and health, which naturally emerged as a central pillar this year for a number of reasons.
Health is a subject that deeply affects our employees, and is in line with our Quality of Working Life (QWL) approach.
It is also at the heart of several partnerships we have developed with local institutions, such as the Monaco Scientific Centre and the Flavien Foundation, to support public health projects, in particular the fight against paediatric cancers.
In 2024, we invited our customers to join us in the fight against paediatric cancer. CFM Indosuez, in collaboration with Crédit Agricole CIB, made a donation of 51,000 euros to the Flavien Foundation and the Monaco Scientific Centre. This donation was made possible thanks to the enthusiasm of our clients to support an investment offer that is both responsible and supportive of health, and to all the CFM Indosuez teams who worked to promote this offer.
These actions enable us to have a real impact, and to engage our employees proactively around these issues.
Can you give us some examples of concrete actions you have taken in this area, particularly in-house with your employees?
Yes, of course I can. For example, to mark Pink October, we got involved with the Pink Ribbon Monaco association in an initiative to raise awareness of breast cancer screening. The association came up with an innovative concept: distribute small boxes of sweets with a QR code to all our employees. The QR code links to a self-palpation guide to raise awareness of prevention in a fun and accessible way. We also made these boxes available in our reception areas throughout October. This was the first time we had taken part in this campaign, and we have had very good feedback from our employees.
We also organised training sessions with the Princess Grace Hospital, where a midwife came to run workshops on self-examination using an educational bust. This enabled our staff to practise and learn how to distinguish a benign mass from a potential tumour. This type of initiative is crucial to establishing a screening routine, while at the same time raising awareness of how to do the right thing.
What about men? Do you also include their health in your CSR initiatives?
Yes, we do. For Movember, a month dedicated to raising awareness of men's health, we are organising a screening and information workshop for our employees on male cancers, in particular prostate cancer, with specialists from the Princess Grace Hospital. It's a subject that may seem a little trickier to talk about, because it's less in the spotlight, but we've been pleasantly surprised to see a real interest on their part. Many of them signed up, which shows that there is a real need for information and awareness-raising.
We've also incorporated Movember into our internal actions with more fun initiatives, such as promoting moustaches as a sign of support. These actions help to strengthen the commitment of our teams to cancer prevention, both female and male.
How do you plan to continue this commitment to health in the future?
We don't want to limit ourselves to Pink October or Movember. Our aim is to work with the Human Resources Department to propose awareness-raising initiatives throughout the year. For example, we have decided to set up special events every two months, in partnership with local associations, to address various aspects of health. This will include themes such as mental health, nutrition and well-being in the workplace.
We will also continue to work with partners such as the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, local associations and the Princess Grace Hospital, to offer workshops, conferences and training courses on public health topics. These initiatives help to raise awareness among employees, reaffirm our commitment to their well-being and promote a corporate culture focused on health and sustainable development.
How do these initiatives fit in with CFM Indosuez's wider CSR policy?
Health is one of the components of our CSR policy. It is extremely important because it directly affects our employees and the Monegasque community. At CFM Indosuez, we see CSR as a coherent whole that includes our commitments to health, the environment and education. Our ambition is to have a positive impact in these three areas, by implementing concrete and measurable actions that respond to these challenges.
