The Voice of Insurance

Following Gallagher's deal to buy out 100% ownership of Capsicum Re - the reinsurance broker it founded as a joint venture with former Benfield boss Graeme Chilton and colleagues back in 2013 - The Voice of Insurance caught up with Capsicum Re CEO Rupert Swallow and Simon Matson, the CEO of Gallagher’s UK Broking & Underwriting division. What were Gallagher's plans now that it had finally broken successfully into reinsurance after decades of trying? What would Capsicum do with major human and financial resources at its disposal? Would it stay specialist or have a go at the big three brokers? What would happen to the Capsicum name? With new owner Gallagher such an accomplished serial acquirer, was more dealmaking a likelihood? How would the executives keep the Capsicum founding entrepreneurs motivated after the deal? Tune in for the answers. This was a relaxed and friendly discussion. As you’d imagine there’s plenty of talk about what the plans are for Gallagher’s new reinsurance intermediary but there are a lot of other market insights blended in...  

This week saw the launch of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2020 at a big set piece media event in London ahead of the major annual summit in Davos, Switzerland. MMC has been one of the risk report’s longstanding sponsors and I was lucky enough to grab a brief catch up with John Drzik Chairman of Marsh & Mclennan Insights for a dive into the report and what it means for the world of insurance in 2020. Long-term environmental risks of many forms had moved right to the top of the agenda and the cyber threat was still business leaders’ top risk. The full World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report is available here: https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-risks-report-2020

Rick Lindsey is the CEO of US E&S insurer Prime Insurance Company. The US E&S market has the most interesting dynamics anywhere in the insurance world. Contrasting heavily with the soft global market of the past few years, some of its more stressed classes have experienced capacity withdrawal and consistent compound rate rises. That is why I was delighted to catch up with Rick in London. Rick has been in the E&S market all his working life and knows everything there is to know about the ups and downs in this specialist field Prime is a fast-growing, and very well performing E&S player and writes in all 50 US states Being an owner of part of his own balance sheet gives Rick huge credibility. He also has strong views and doesn’t pull any punches! That’s why I can highly recommend the interview that follows:

David Flandro is Managing Director, Analytics at Hyperion X. I caught up with him following the publication of Hyperion-X's 1.1 2020 renewal report. He is one of the smartest people I have ever met in insurance. He is also good at explaining complicated ideas. If you don't already know David I would highly recommend listening to him on any insurance topic that you want to master. So if you want to know more about the big trends behind the most interesting 1.1 reinsurance renewal for many years, this podcast is essential listening. The Hyperion X 1.1 renewal report can be accessed here Background: David started as an analyst at Merrill Lynch and for the past 15 years has worked for many of the major (re)insurance broking groups. Over that period he has produced many of the most insightful reports on the global insurance and reinsurance sectors. He has since joined Hyperion's exciting new Hyperion-X venture where he is building new data products and engaging heavily with the world of Insurtech. Happy Listening!    

Willis Re is the big 3 global reinsurance broker behind the excellent and timely 1st View reinsurance renewals reports. Given the shifting global market, the 1.1 2020 1st View has been the most keenly awaited such report for over a decade. From a first read the key words this year are Divergent, Judicious, Discerning and Client-centric to describe reinsurance markets and reinsurer behaviour. The Voice of Insurance caught up with James Vickers, Chair of Willis Re International to dig a little deeper. As sellers found backbone and walked away from unattractive business and strong long-term trading relationships became more important, did aggressive cedants finally get their comeuppance? Listen here to find out and put some colour into the excellent report The report can be downloaded here: https://www.willistowerswatson.com/en-gb/Insights/2020/01/willis-re-1st-view-january-2020-markets-diverge  

Mark Geoghegan talks to Sheila Cameron to dig into the detail of the much-discussed Lead-Follow reforms proposed in the Lloyd’s Blueprint One plan. Myths are busted and misconceptions set straight as the CEO of the Lloyd's Market Association and one of the principle architects of this process, explains what the new proposals concerning the future of Syndication of Risk at Lloyd’s are, as well as what they are not. For instance those that worry the reforms are just going to give bigger managing agents even more influence are in for a pleasant surprise. Confused about what Lead-Follow is all about and what it might mean for the future of the market? Anyone who works in Lloyd’s or places business there will benefit from a listen to this concise interview. Recorded 6th December 2019.