AM Best Audio

Senior AM Best analytical staff walk through the 2026 outlooks and the global, economic, social and technological trends that are shifting the industry and key factors expected to shape results in 2026. (Event Date: December 9, 2025)

George Hosfield, vice president, Home Insurance, LexisNexis, discusses key findings from the 2025 LexisNexis Home Trends Report, examining rising loss severity, surging catastrophe claims and what intensifying weather-driven risks mean for homeowners insurers.

Eric Wedin, head of North America financial lines, Allianz Commercial, discusses findings from the company’s latest D&O Insurance Insight Report, examining how geopolitical instability, cyber incidents, and other global factors are reshaping directors and officers liability exposures heading into 2026.

Torbjorn Soltvedt, associate director of political violence, Verisk Maplecroft, explains how growing political polarization, fiscal strain and the amplified role of social media are driving a global increase in disruptive protests, with commercial property increasingly targeted.

Xceedance Americas President Travis MacMillian outlines six key technology trends, including real-time underwriting, that are redefining insurer operations, governance and customer engagement in 2026.

Jim Williamson, president and CEO, Everest Group, said reinsurance pricing expected to decline moderately in 2026, with ample capacity from major carriers. Williamson spoke with AM Best TV at the Cayman Captive Forum 2025.

Alex Hindson, partner and head of sustainability, Crowe UK, said models for transition and litigation risks don't exist, forcing reliance on scenario analysis. Hindson spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Domenico del Re, director, sustainability, PwC United Kingdom, said climate impacts will extend across food systems, health care and water scarcity. He spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Amy Barnes, head of climate and sustainability strategy and head of energy and power, Marsh, said climate risks impact traditional property lines while energy underwriters capture opportunities. Barnes spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

JC Marais, faculty, African Institute of Financial Markets and Risk Management, University of Cape Town, discusses his research on how insurer capital and market shifts shape the property-liability underwriting cycle that influences pricing, risk and profitability.

Tim Prince and Eli Sanchez, both of AM Best, said rated insurers are rebalancing investment portfolios. They spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Lockton Re CEO Tim Gardner discusses softening markets, client value, AI’s impact and navigating global volatility. Gardner spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.

Corneille Karekezi, group managing director and CEO, Africa Re, cited diversification into motor, imports and electric vehicles. Karekezi spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.

Mark Cloutier, chairman & CEO, Aspen, said climate risk and social inflation help maintain pricing discipline in reinsurance markets despite cycle pressures. Cloutier spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.

Greg Carter, managing director, analytics, AM Best, said higher interest rates helped insurers' investment returns and profit retention. Carter spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Sanjay Mokashi, general manager and chief underwriting officer, GIC, said closing India's protection gap requires redesigning existing insurance products. Mokashi spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.

Kanika Thukral and Konstantin Langowski, both of AM Best, said captive criteria revisions clarify analytical language without impacting existing ratings. Both spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Dale Kirby and Andrea Porta, both of AM Best, said a greater share of European insurers meet Solvency II standards compared with carriers in Africa and the Middle East. Both spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Charles Mathias, group executive director and group director of underwriting, The Fidelis Partnership, said different capacity providers allows more diversification of risk. Mathias spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.

Valeria Ermakova and Stan Stoev, both of AM Best, comment that research across markets and segments shows consistent failure patterns, although the risk environment remains dynamic. They spoke with AM Best TV at AM Best's Europe Insurance Market & Methodology Briefings – London.

Martin Burke, chief underwriting officer, MS Amlin, said when looking at aggregations, you must be comfortable with your stance in the end. Burke spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.

 HSB's Sebastien Bert, DOXA's Zach Burdine, Brace Underwriting's Glenn Dorr and Allianz Commercial's Julie Gibbs discuss how MGAs are using “data orchestration” to expedite implementing programs. They spoke with AM Best TV at the WSIA Annual Marketplace in San Diego.

Waleed Jabsheh, CEO, International General Insurance, notes varied recovery across markets, with regions such as the Middle East failing to benefit from hardening conditions. Jabsheh spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo.

Peter Mansfield, an insurance lawyer and partner at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, shares how his digital audio program brings the insurance world to life.

Duncan Dale, CEO, Dale Underwriting Partners, said that while the reinsurance market has enjoyed two strong years, underlying claims data reveals worsening trends. Dale spoke with AM Best TV at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre conference, Monte Carlo.