25 years of Arcturus: from pioneering spirit to new leadership
What began as a network of freelancers in 2000 and the years that followed has grown into a leading actuarial firm. Jan Hooper and Peter van Kampen take us through 25 years of Arcturus. They reflect on the pioneering days filled with challenges, their unique way of collaborating, the rapid growth during the rise of Solvency II regulations, and the personal values that have always been at the core. In this candid interview, they also share how they carefully handed over the reins to the new leadership team in 2024, and how they are now fully embracing new challenges and personal passions.
How Arcturus began
Arcturus was founded in 2000 by Jan Hooper, but the idea dates back to 1999. Jan recalls: “I was working at Aegon at the time, and those were truly intense years. With a young family and a demanding job, life was very busy. To create more flexibility, I started working as a freelancer.” Opportunities came her way immediately – too many, in fact. “I wanted to take on everything, but I couldn’t do it alone. The solution was to collaborate with other freelancers, and that’s how Arcturus was born. By the way, the name is a nod to the street I lived on in Zimbabwe.”
Jan’s background is international: born in Zimbabwe, studied in Cape Town, lived in Canada, and eventually immigrated to the Netherlands. “Through my mother, who worked for an insurance company, I discovered the actuarial profession. It was the perfect fit.”
How did your paths first cross?
Peter: “After completing my degree in econometrics, I spent about ten years in various actuarial and leadership roles at Delta Lloyd, where I occasionally hired consultants. The market for freelance professionals in non-life insurance was small back then, but I frequently worked with Arcturus whenever I needed extra support. Their extensive knowledge of the non-life insurance market immediately stood out, and before long, I relied on Arcturus for almost every new assignment.”
In 2006, Peter joined Arcturus. Together, the freelancers within Arcturus collaborated closely. The advantage of working together in a secondment-based environment is the flexibility it offers, and clients greatly value being able to quickly bring in an extra colleague during busy periods. It also makes it easier to find time for training, and – most importantly – sharing knowledge. “The company grew, became a private limited company (BV) in 2008, and with four partners, we were incredibly busy. We tackled everything together and were driven to make it a success.”
Good work is your best calling card. At the time, we did very little PR. The network did the work: you know people at every insurer, you’ve worked in many places, and that’s how people naturally find you – clients, and later, employees too. The atmosphere was informal and entrepreneurial: we worked hard, shared knowledge, and developed new solutions. That pioneering spirit became the foundation for Arcturus’s further growth.
The growth of Arcturus: the first office and the first employees
In 2010, we moved into our first office and hired our first employees. Over the years, we’ve had three different offices in Utrecht, always in shared business buildings; flexible, accessible, and affordable. No fancy buildings or slick presentations; being down-to-earth and personal suits us, making everyone feel welcome.
A key catalyst for Arcturus’s growth was the introduction of Solvency II regulations. Jan recalls: “That period really gave us a boost. From 2009 onwards, the insurance market had to start preparing, and for small non-life insurers, this was a significant challenge. In a working group at the Dutch Association of Insurers, I could represent the voice of smaller insurers – they often didn’t have the knowledge or capacity to oversee everything themselves. That was exactly where we could demonstrate our added value.”
Those were years of intense work. Much of Solvency II was uncharted territory. We developed tools, defined roles and agreements, and documented everything. Our employees delved into the smallest details of the legislation and built models to perform calculations. In this way, we made the complex understandable and created knowledge and capacity for our clients. We always took on the roles that smaller insurers either could not fill themselves or chose not to for cost-efficiency reasons, translating knowledge into concrete actions. A practice that Arcturus continues to this day.
Jan adds: “Our strength lies in always being there for our clients, combining deep expertise with practical solutions, and delivering quality at a fair price. We don’t pursue unlimited growth, but remain personal and committed.”
Learning from each other
The growth of Arcturus was both intense and educational for the partners. It required more structure. Two of the first four partners stepped back to remain freelancers. Jan explains: “We needed more management, structure, and planning, and employees had to be trained and coached.” Peter adds: “You think, ‘I hire people and then it will run itself,’ but in reality, it creates extra work and pressure. It brings a completely different dynamic, and we had to get used to that.”
They also learned a lot from each other. Jan says: “Peter taught me how to compromise, even when discussions are tough. Keep talking, keep going when it’s difficult, and you’ll always find a solution together.” Peter adds: “And I have always admired Jan’s incredible drive. She never hesitates to reach out and develop new opportunities. I’m naturally more risk-averse, so our personalities have always complemented each other perfectly.”
What are you most proud of?
Peter: “I’m proud of the company and the growth we’ve achieved. Most of all, I’m proud of the long-standing relationships with our clients, the trust they place in us is amazing.” Jan: “I completely agree. Personally, I also value how we’ve embedded professionalism together with our clients. Discussing topics, preventing mistakes, planning ahead, and gaining full insight – these are all aspects I find very important.”
What changes have you seen in the market?
Jan: “Since Arcturus was founded in 2000, a lot has changed. There are more competitors, and the rise of AI as well as increasing climate risks are major developments. You need to respond immediately, or you’ll be left behind. Staying ahead has always been our guiding principle.” Peter: “In addition, we’ve seen consolidation in the insurance market, driven in part by regulations and administrative burdens.”
How did the handover of leadership go?
Jan and Peter deliberately and carefully handed over the leadership of Arcturus. “We actually started the process back in 2021,” says Peter. “It was important for us to take plenty of time to pass on the culture and our core values.” Jan adds: “Yes, we wanted clients to always feel at home at Arcturus, and that has worked out well. The new leadership team consists of four partners – they are great, full of energy and passion, and fully capable of managing growth. The handover went smoothly, which made the transition easier. We both now feel a sense of calm not being part of the management anymore. It was a huge responsibility.”
Although day-to-day management was handed over in 2024, Jan and Peter remain very involved and interested in what’s happening at Arcturus. They certainly haven’t fallen into a void. Both continue to work for Arcturus clients, while also making room for new challenges.
Peter: “Recently, I’ve started working one day a week as a teaching assistant at a special needs school. It’s really rewarding. I also have more time for my family and for sports.” Jan: “And I now spend one day a week looking after my grandchildren, which I absolutely love. I also still ride horses every day.”