What makes Transformation Continuous? 5 key principles
What is Continuous Transformation
In today’s highly volatile economic and geopolitical environment, adaptability has become a critical success factor for businesses. The traditional transformation model—centered around a project management office overseeing a portfolio of projects with fixed timelines and budgets—is no longer sufficient. Organizations are increasingly seeking continuous transformation as a core capability: one that enables them to adapt consistently and sustainably to market, political, and technological change.
Transformation at Tryg
Over the past 25 years in management consulting—as a Partner at McKinsey and Accenture—I have led numerous large-scale transformation programs across sectors and geographies. These included post-merger integrations, profitability improvements, shared services establishment, IT/business process outsourcing, just to mention a few.
In May 2024, I had the privilege of joining Tryg A/S, Scandinavia’s largest P&C insurance company, where I was given the opportunity to build a transformation capability from the ground up. The goal: to support the company’s largest-ever transformation—shifting from a country-focused to a fully Nordic operating model.
After just one year, the transformation has delivered significant results:
• Achieved 40% of the targeted three-year run-rate savings
• 25 transformation projects running in parallel
• Over 250 employees from across the organization actively involved
• 85% of program participants reported being “highly motivated” in our satisfaction survey
Now it is time to reflect on the journey and synthesize the learnings. In this and the following articles I will share my own reflection that I believe are not specific to Tryg and could be used in many corporate settings.
Lets start with key 5 principles that make transformation continuous.
5 key principles
1. Clear Vision, Opportunistic Strategy
A clear, consistent vision provides long-term direction and purpose, while the strategy remains flexible to adapt to changing conditions. This duality allows the Transformation program to stay focused yet agile, responding to real-time opportunities, innovation, or disruption. At Tryg the vision for Transformation is “Simplicity and Scale” means transforming operating model from country-based to pan-Scandinavian.
2. Evolving Aspirations Instead of Static Targets
Rather than setting fixed targets that may become obsolete, continuous transformation is driven by dynamic aspirations that evolve as the environment changes. At Tryg the Transformation team has a high level value aspiration and investment budget, but both have certain flexibility and periodically revised.
3. Transformation Embedded Into Company’s Operating Model
Continuous Transformation isn’t a side project—it’s built into how the company operates. This concretely means that new initiatives are integrated into existing backlogs and not run in isolation and dependent on external consultants.
4. CEO-Led Steering Supported by lean Transformation Management Office (TMO)
Leadership from the CEO and Executive team ensures alignment with vision and authority. A lean TMO provides focus, coordination, and tracking while execution accountability remains in line organization. At Tryg such a structure balances strategic oversight with agile and accelerated execution
5. Empowered Organization With Accountability for Results and Transformation Mindset
At Tryg the execution responsibility lies within the line organization, with leaders appointed as delivery sponsors for relevant blocks of the transformation scope. Broad organizational involvement and communication of transformation results through regular “Demo-sessions” and communication channels foster a mindset of ownership and accountability.
.