Insurance Insider - Behind the Headlines

Following a period of dwindling market share for London in reinsurance, reinsurer start-up activity has returned to the Square Mile. One such business is Cathal Carr-led Oak Global, which launched in 2024 and now boasts two syndicates. But why choose to launch in Lloyd’s? Carr told Behind the Headlines how Lloyd’s provided a unique access to capital which was transformational in its launch phase....

The enhanced underwriting premium in London, including the smart follow market, has swelled to over $5bn of premium. But what is next for the rapidly evolving smart follow sector in the next phase of the market cycle? In the latest episode of Behind the Headlines , InsurX CEO Gilbert Harrap explains how the company is now rolling out its smart follow technology with lead markets. The company is al...

With cross class facilities having proliferated in London in recent years, how will these structures fare in the next phase of the cycle? Arch has been a major participant in this corner of the market, and Arch Insurance International CEO Hugh Sturgess is optimistic about the long-term performance of the structures. He told Behind the Headlines that facilities are a major net benefit for London, a...

What’s next for Convex following its rapid expansion and $7bn deal with Onex and AIG last year? In his first major interview since the transaction, CEO Paul Brand tells Behind the Headlines how Convex’s lean operating model is built to withstand the pressures of the soft market. Brand also details the rationale for the carrier’s play in the MGA market, and reflects on his longtime executive partne...

Matthew Wilson’s life was upended when he received a shock blood cancer diagnosis whilst working as CEO of Brit. Since then, he has thrown himself into fundraising to support research for multiple myeloma, founding the Matthew Wilson Multiple Myeloma Fund and chairing Blood Cancer UK. Speaking with Behind the Headlines, Wilson charts the journey of his diagnosis and treatment, and explains how the...

How are marine insurers dealing with the geopolitical turmoil impacting global shipping? According to Skuld CEO Ståle Hansen, insurers are adjusting to a new norm of international tensions, and navigating a complex regime of sanctions. The executive joins Behind the Headlines to discuss the unique mutual model of P&I clubs and Skuld’s commercial diversification strategy, as well as reflecting...

The reinsurance market made huge strides to structurally transform structures and attachment points in recent years. But as the market softens, is discipline being maintained? According to Jason Richards, CEO of P&C reinsurance UK and Ireland at Swiss Re, the market is holding firm on structure, and it is essential to continue this focus. In a wide-ranging interview for Behind the Headlines he...

What comes next for AdA Underwriters as it steps onto the Lloyd’s stage? Launched in 2023 with an initial focus on the upstream energy market, AdA has since expanded into adjacent specialty classes. This year, it reached a major milestone by graduating to a full Lloyd’s syndicate. But the bigger question now is how far it can go. CEO Natasha Jodrell has made clear that the ultimate ambition is to...

How has the London insurance market responded to the conflict which has engulfed the Middle East? According to Chris Jones, CEO of the International Underwriting Association, the marine war market has stepped up, and has been offering coverage throughout the crisis, despite the obvious challenges. Chris lifts the lid on how these situations unfold behind the scenes, and highlights that it is safet...

With £187bn of premium written in 2024, £61bn contributed to UK GDP, and a revitalised reinsurance ecosystem, is the London market in danger of getting too comfortable? According to Caroline Wagstaff, CEO of London Market Group, strong performance is no excuse for complacency. In the latest episode of Behind the Headlines , Wagstaff argues that London insurers must continually develop new products...

Are data centres really the biggest growth opportunity the insurance industry has ever seen? They’ve burst into the spotlight in recent months, but just how material is this new source of business? According to Joe Peiser, Aon’s CEO of Commercial Risk Solutions, data centres represent the single largest opportunity the industry has ever faced. Speaking on Behind the Headlines , Peiser explains why...

Have you ever wondered what goes into launching a new syndicate at Lloyd's? The latest Behind the Headlines guest Paul Andrews helped bring three new syndicates to market at the start of the year, and in this episode explains how to navigate the process. According to Andrews, there is a healthy pipeline of start-up activity in Lloyd's in 2026, but budding syndicates need to bring somethi...

What is the strategic thinking behind The Fidelis Partnership’s unique business model? According to CEO Richard Brindle the firm is now increasingly perceived by balance sheet reinsurers as a distributor, as opposed to a direct competitor. He tells Behind the Headlines that the diverse structure – including backing from a listed balance sheet, plus two Lloyd’s syndicates and MGA incubator Pine Wal...

What were the defining moments that shaped the insurance market in 2025? In a bonus episode of Behind the Headlines, Insurance Insider's Editor at Large Adam McNestrie provides his unparallelled insight into what he sees as the key developments influencing the sector. The changing of the guard at Lloyd's, Howden's ambitious launch into the US market, and a breakneck cycle of carrier...

How do you harmonise distribution strategies in a rapidly evolving marketplace? Sara Farrup took over as head of global markets at Axis at the beginning of the year, assuming leadership of one of the largest syndicates in Lloyd’s and a major market maker in areas including cyber and renewable energy. In an interview with Behind the Headlines , Farrup explained that it’s essential for fast-follow a...

Nobody likes flying in turbulence, and in recent years aviation insurers have faced their fair share of upheaval. First there was the major claim stemming from the war in Ukraine, and following that a string of claims for the all-risk market in 2025. Launched in 2017, Hive Underwriters has built out despite these challenging conditions, and its CEO Bruce Carman told Behind the Headlines he is eyei...

MS Re has undergone a period of significant growth in recent years, and expects to top $4bn of GWP in 2025. CUO Charlie Goldie explains on Behind the Headlines that the company’s strategy is to deliver value creation for its parent over the long term, partnering with insurers on a cross-class basis to manage volatility. He said that conditions in casualty reinsurance are improving, but the work is...

How do struggling governments across the globe tackle stagnating economic growth? According to Cristopher Croft, CEO of the London & International Insurance Brokers’ Association, the specialty broking sector is key to unlocking economic potential. He tells Behind the Headlines that brokers are more than just transactional cogs in deals, they are risk management experts which help companies nav...

IGI’s premium income has almost doubled since it listed in 2020, but how can growth still be achieved in a soft market? President and CEO Waleed Jabsheh tells Behind the Headlines that there is still fertile ground to expand its ‘relatively small’ reinsurance portfolio, and that the company is targeting specialty treaty business. But as the soft pricing cycle ramps up, the executive said that he i...

What’s driving the wave of shifting ownership structures in the Lloyd’s market? The M&A cycle underway at Lloyd’s is reshaping the landscape, with new models emerging. One recent example is the combination of a mortgage and Lloyd’s specialty insurer, following Radian’s $1.7bn acquisition of Inigo. Radian CEO Rick Thornberry describes it as a “winning combination,” offering non-correlating expo...

How does Lloyd’s plan to secure its future as a leading global marketplace? Lloyd’s chair, Sir Charles Roxburgh, joined the market in May with a full in-tray—most notably, the task of appointing the next CEO. Now, with a fresh leadership team in place, he is working alongside CEO Patrick Tiernan to cement Lloyd’s position at the forefront of the insurance world. Roxburgh told Behind the Headlines...

What’s next for the reinsurance market as Monte Carlo approaches? Conference season is here, and reinsurers are preparing to descend on Monte Carlo for the annual Rendezvous de Septembre — the traditional starting gun for 1 January renewal discussions. In this week’s Behind the Headlines , Aon Reinsurance Solutions International CEO Alfonso Valera says an influx of reinsurance capital has tipped t...

What happens when a global broker network decides to fill a gap in the London market itself? Assurex Global is a worldwide network of over 100 independent brokers, placing around $50bn of premium. Partners in the network pump about $4bn of premium into the London market, and according to CEO and president Dean Hildebrandt, the ongoing consolidation in the London wholesale space had created a “void...

What does it take to turn a family-run insurance group into a global powerhouse? That’s the question HW Kaufman is tackling head-on. The parent company of RB Jones and Burns & Wilcox has global ambitions—and it’s brought in international CEO Paul Greensmith to lead the charge. In this episode of Behind the Headlines , Greensmith shares how he’s driving strategic growth in key markets like Lond...