Our History
In 1963, backed by Generali as its first shareholder, Pierre Desnos founded Europ Assistance, now Redion. A new kind of service. A profession never seen before. Protection for people travelling abroad.
The idea came from real life. Friends of Pierre Desnos were involved in an accident in Spain. At the time, French travellers had little support outside their borders. The gap was clear. So he decided to act.
The early days were tough. But the impact was immediate. That first year, three lives were saved.
- A young woman who fell 10 metres while visiting the Acropolis.
- A little girl badly burned in Spain.
- A baby saved thanks to the rapid delivery of vital medicines.
As Pierre Desnos later said:
“In 1963, we invented a profession. A real profession. Hard, demanding, with unlimited responsibility.”
These first achievements, followed in subsequent years by an ever-increasing number of others, enabled Redion, formerly Europ Assistance and Generali Employee Benefits, to expand and progress to become and remain, 60 years later, a true benchmark in the assistance sector.
The 1960s
Birth of assistance as a profession
In 1963 Europ Assistance was born from a clear idea: people should never face uncertainty alone when far from home. From day one, our purpose was simple—be there when it matters most.
Just one year later, Europ Asssistance crossed its first border.
In 1964, a subsidiary opened in Brussels, becoming the first outside France. It marked the start of an international journey, driven by the belief that care should have no borders.
In 1965, Europ Asssistance took a decisive step forward in medical assistance. Through a partnership with aircraft manufacturer Marcel Dassault, a Falcon 20 was made permanently available for medical missions. Speed, readiness, and expertise became core to how we protect people.
By 1967, Europ Asssistance expanded its services even further, offering coverage for travel between the USA and Canada. Long-distance travel was becoming more common—and we were ready to support it.
In 1968, a second European subsidiary opened in Italy. In less than a decade, Europ Asssistance had laid the foundations of an international network.
The 1970s
Assistance services become widespread
By 1970, our assistance services were growing rapidly, supporting more people, more often.
In 1977, a major milestone was reached. Europ Asssistance supported its ten‑millionth customer. That same year, we expanded coverage to more distant countries, including Brazil and Kenya, and opened a new subsidiary in Spain. Our network was no longer regional. It was becoming truly global.
The 1980s
Beyond borders
In 1980, we opened a subsidiary in Germany. One year later, we launched a new service focused on advice, information, and assistance—helping people solve everyday problems, anywhere. That same momentum took us to the United States, with the opening of a new subsidiary.
In 1984, Europ Asssistance reached a new continent. After Europe and the Americas, we expanded into Africa with the creation of a subsidiary in South Africa. Our global footprint was no longer an ambition. It was a reality.
By 1989, Europ Asssistance entered the Asian market with the opening of a representative office in China. A clear signal of what we stood for: being present early, building trust locally, and supporting people as the world opened up.
The 1990s
Accelerating international growth
In 1991, we expanded into Greece with the opening of a new branch. Step by step, we strengthened our presence across Europe to stay closer to the people we protect.
In 1993, innovation took center stage. We launched tele‑assistance services and created Europ Asssistance in Portugal. Over the following years, our footprint expanded rapidly, with new operations in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Hungary, Poland, Singapore, and Switzerland. Each opening reinforced one belief: proximity matters, wherever you are.
By 1998, Europ Asssistance had reached a new scale. One hundred and fifteen million people were covered worldwide. Every year, 3.75 million cases were handled by 2,300 employees. Behind these numbers stood a clear commitment—act fast, stay reliable, and care for people when it matters most.
The 2000s
Innovation, resilience, and scale
The 2000s marked a new chapter for Europ Asssistance. In 2000, we launched the first pan‑European Holiday Barometer. It gave a clear view of how people travel, what they expect, and how their needs evolve. Insight became a key part of how we anticipate risks and design better services.
In 2001, the Generali Group acquired 100% of Europ Asssistance’s capital. This milestone strengthened our foundations and gave us the scale to move faster. Two years later, we created an Irish branch to cover international risk. That same year, Martin Vial succeeded Yves Galland as CEO, bringing new momentum and a strong global vision. When a tsunami struck Southeast Asia, Europ Asssistance mobilized 150 employees around the clock to support more than 1,000 customers.
In 2005, we unveiled a new visual identity for Europ Assistance, now Europ Asssistance. It reflected our growing ambitions and a more modern, global brand. At the same time, we launched our first “Plug & Sell” online insurance solution—a global e‑commerce platform designed for travel agents, tour operators, and airlines. One year later, our expansion continued with the acquisition of two US companies: GMMI, specializing in health in Florida, and CSA Travel Protection, focused on travel in San Diego.
By 2009, Europ Asssistance reinforced its presence in Latin America through a joint venture with Bradesco Seguros Group in Brazil.
The 2010s
Caring forward, connected and committed
In 2010, Europ Assistance, introduced a new global tagline: “You live, we care.” It captured our purpose in simple words. That same year, we made social entrepreneurship a global commitment through a partnership with Ashoka. We also became the reference shareholder of Océalis, expanded into Cameroon and Turkey, and strengthened our role in tele‑assistance and direct distribution.
In 2011, we opened a subsidiary in Congo, followed by Nigeria in 2012. These expansions reflected a clear choice: build local presence to deliver faster, more relevant support.
In 2013, Europ Asssistance marked 50 years of expertise, serving 300 million customers worldwide.
In 2014, Antoine Parisi was appointed CEO of the Europ Asssistance Group, bringing renewed focus on transformation and long‑term impact.
In 2015, we launched the “We Connect” strategy. The assistance sector was changing. Technology was opening new possibilities. We adapted our organization to become more connected, more agile, and more customer‑centric.
In 2016, we went even further. Our US business was re‑branded Generali Global Assistance, while in Europe we launched Generali Concierge Services, our first premium corporate concierge offering. At the same time, we accelerated the digitization of roadside assistance.
The decade also proved our ability to act under pressure. From major crisis responses to medical evacuations, teleconsultation services launched in 2018, and rapid international deployments—like the 2019 Azerbaijan oil platform crisis—Europ Asssistance showed what caring, expertise, and reliability truly mean.
The 2020s
Leadership in action
In 2020, during the Covid‑19 crisis, we mobilized fast—supporting hospitals, working with the French Red Cross, and caring for patients without coverage. Our teams also helped protect those on the front line, supporting vaccination efforts for key workers.
In 2021, we strengthened our position through an exclusive partnership with Crédit Agricole Assurances.
In 2022, we accelerated growth in Asia and the Middle East with acquisitions in Australia and the Gulf region.
In 2023, Europ Asssistance marked 60 years of care. With a presence in 36 countries and more than 300 million people assisted, we entered the decade as a clear global leader—reliable, agile, and ready for what comes next.
2026
A name that reflects who we have become
For years, we operated as one integrated platform — aligning standards, sharing expertise, and delivering consistent care across 190+ countries under the Generali Group umbrella.
In 2026, Redion steps forward to lead the future of care.
Our vision: to be the world’s premier care partner — defined not by what we sell, but by the moments we show up for our customers.
Redion is the name that makes that visible. One brand. A platform already trusted by 70+ of the world’s largest employers and half of the top ten global travel companies. This is not a new beginning. It is the recognition of what we have already built.