The century code: What we can learn from 100-year-old companies

Reaching a hundred years in business is no small feat. In a world where markets shift overnight and technology rewrites the rules every decade, longevity is rare. So when a company crosses the century mark, it’s worth asking: what makes that possible? And more importantly, what can we learn from it?

Business longevity as a signal of value

A hundred years is more than a milestone; it’s proof of relevance. It tells us that the organisation has consistently delivered something people need through wars, recessions, booms, and digital revolutions. Survival at this scale isn’t just luck. Atradius is one of those companies, with a journey through economic crises, globalisation, and digital transformation. Its story isn’t about nostalgia; it’s about proving that adaptability, trust, and purpose can sustain a business for a century. 

David Capdevila, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), captures the essence of what it means to endure for a century. For him, longevity is not about standing still but about evolving with the world while staying true to core values. As he explains: 

“We are not the same company as we were 100 years ago. The world has changed, and we have evolved with it. During recent challenges such as the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and trade tariffs, we acted quickly to provide stability. Agility has been key to our success, but it is not the only reason. Our personal touch makes the real difference. Clear communication with customers, especially when explaining complex products or issues, is essential. Our culture of putting people first is central to who we are. Many customers have stayed with us for decades, some for over 40 or 50 years, and our retention rate is close to 95%.”

The DNA of century-old companies

What do these companies have in common? A few traits stand out:

The human factor at the heart of customer relationships

To build a company that lasts, one principle stands out: understand your customer’s needs and anticipate how they evolve over time. For Atradius, that customer is the Chief Financial Officer, the guardian of financial resilience. As Claus Gramlich-Eicher, our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), puts it:

“The role of CFO has, in essence, remained constant for a century and will continue to do so: staying alert and prudent in managing business finances. Beyond meeting reporting obligations and providing management with critical performance insights, it means setting realistic ambitions and budgets and ensuring investments support long-term success. At its core, the role is about securing the capital needed for sustainable profitable growth.”

To build strong relationships with customers, it’s not enough to keep pace with technological change. The quality of the human factor is just as critical, bringing the ability to understand and strive to meet what truly matters to clients within a disciplined approach to risk, grounded in judgement, experience and consistency. As Andreas Tesch, our Chief Risk Officer, explains, developing these capabilities across the organisation is essential for long-term success:

“Joining the club of century-old businesses is rare. We’ve achieved it by empowering our teams to focus on what truly matters: building strong relationships with customers and partners. Our people-first approach and collaborative ethos set us apart. We encourage independent thinking to help customers identify trade opportunities and manage the risks of doing business. By combining local knowledge, underwriting expertise and close client relationships, we’ve successfully guided businesses through a century of economic cycles.”

Leading change without losing purpose

Strategy and culture are often seen as abstract ideas, yet they are practical forces that drive resilience. As Marc Henstridge, our Chief Market Officer (CMO), explains, their combination provides clear direction and a shared sense of purpose to reach a hundred years:

“Our success and resilience rest on two pillars: strategy and culture. Strategy sets the destination and the route to reach it; culture ensures we move forward as one team, with everyone understanding their role in getting there. Strong, lasting customer relationships have distinguished us since the 1920s, and a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses continues to shape our evolution. Over the past decade, this has meant embracing AI and digital tools to boost efficiency and free our people to focus on what matters most: engaging with clients and building trust.”

Staying alert to market trends is essential. For Atradius, one of the most defining shifts came in the 1990s, when the acceleration of global trade changed everything. Trade credit insurers, once focused on deep domestic expertise, faced a new reality: clients needed global solutions. The response was integration, bringing together local knowledge under international platforms. That ability to read change and act decisively is key. Marta Nodal, our CMO, points out:

“For us, lasting success comes from learning through economic cycles, listening closely to the market, and empowering people to shape the future. This experience has strengthened our ability to anticipate risks and respond with confidence. Geographic diversity is also one of our greatest advantages. Atradius has grown as a multinational by integrating organisations with deep local expertise, sharing best practices, and building a common direction, while preserving the cultural differences that make us distinctive. That diversity remains one of our most valuable assets.”

Why business longevity matters

In an era obsessed with speed and disruption, these lessons feel almost radical. Longevity reminds us that success isn’t just about scaling fast; it’s about staying relevant. For younger companies, the takeaway is clear: build with resilience in mind. For established firms, it’s a call to keep evolving without losing sight of what makes them trusted and to change your perspective. As David Capdevila says:

“We are all contributing to something bigger than us, something that will last longer than we do. When we give our best, we create a ripple effect that goes beyond business, enabling trade and giving back to society in ways that matter.”

This thought captures why companies endure: they look beyond themselves. A hundred years is not a finish line; it is a foundation for impact that reaches far beyond the organisation. That is the ultimate lesson for the next hundred years. This is how we’ve managed to thrive for a century. Perhaps there’s something you can take away from our journey. With all our experience, we’re here to help you navigate the challenges ahead.

To explore how to strengthen your own credit risk strategy, get in touch with us and see how we can help you stay ahead.