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Insurance Insider - Behind the Headlines

Insurance Insider - Behind the Headlines

Sam Casey 60 Episodes Aug 20, 2026

Get the inside scoop on the major stories shaping the London Market through discussions with the journalists who broke them, with insights from industry professionals on what these developments mean for the (re)insurance sector.

Episodes

Behind the Headlines: Howden CMA’s Beckham and Cooper on the M&A boom
Behind the Headlines: Howden CMA’s Beckham and Cooper on the M&A boom Aug 20, 2026 1577 Following a string of major M&A transactions over the past year, are we past the peak of the M&A cycle?According to Howden Capital Markets & Advisory’s Leo Beckham and Bill Cooper, we should expect to see deals keep on coming.The investment bankers told Behind the Headlines that they are still operating in a “double-sided coin” M&A market – with ongoing buyer and seller interest.Th
Behind the headlines: Nick Hankin on QBE Re’s $6bn reinsurance ambitions
Behind the headlines: Nick Hankin on QBE Re’s $6bn reinsurance ambitions Aug 6, 2026 1503 QBE Re has doubled in size since 2020, and plans to double its scale again by 2030 to underwrite $6bnn of business.But how can this continued expansion be achieved in a market undergoing significant softening?According to QBE Re managing director Nick Hankin, the business is not relying on one or two big bets, but is targeting broad-based expansion across product and geography.He told Insurance In
Behind the Headlines: Pool Re’s Tom Clementi on the ever-evolving terrorism threat
Behind the Headlines: Pool Re’s Tom Clementi on the ever-evolving terrorism threat Jul 23, 2026 1558 Government-backed terrorism reinsurer Pool Re was established in 1993 to respond to commercial market failure caused by the IRA’s bombing campaign.Since then, the terror threat landscape has changed hugely, and Pool Re has evolved with it. Approaching its next strategic review with the Treasury, what are the top priorities for the organisation?CEO Tom Clementi tells Behind the Headlines that Pool
Behind the Headlines: Oak Global’s Cathal Carr on reinsurance recency bias
Behind the Headlines: Oak Global’s Cathal Carr on reinsurance recency bias Jul 9, 2026 1717 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.Disc
Behind the Headlines: InsurX’s Gilbert Harrap on the evolving world of smart follow
Behind the Headlines: InsurX’s Gilbert Harrap on the evolving world of smart follow Jun 25, 2026 1347 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 also c
Behind the Headlines: Arch’s Hugh Sturgess on the ‘win, win, win’ of facilities
Behind the Headlines: Arch’s Hugh Sturgess on the ‘win, win, win’ of facilities Jun 12, 2026 1584 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, ach
Behind the Headlines: Paul Brand on Convex’s next phase of growth
Behind the Headlines: Paul Brand on Convex’s next phase of growth May 28, 2026 1564 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 partners
Behind the Headlines: Ex-Brit CEO Matthew Wilson on the power of insurance philanthropy
Behind the Headlines: Ex-Brit CEO Matthew Wilson on the power of insurance philanthropy May 14, 2026 1712 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 p
Skuld's Ståle Hansen on managing maritime volatility
Skuld's Ståle Hansen on managing maritime volatility Apr 30, 2026 1626 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 on
Behind the Headlines: Swiss Re’s Jason Richards on reinsurer retention discipline
Behind the Headlines: Swiss Re’s Jason Richards on reinsurer retention discipline Apr 16, 2026 1484 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 al
Behind the Headlines: Natasha Jodrell on AdA Underwriters’ specialty diversification
Behind the Headlines: Natasha Jodrell on AdA Underwriters’ specialty diversification Apr 2, 2026 1578 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 bu
Behind the Headlines: IUA’s Chris Jones on marine war market’s Iran response
Behind the Headlines: IUA’s Chris Jones on marine war market’s Iran response Mar 19, 2026 1623 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 safety

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