Beyond the Desk with Mark Thomas
Beyond the Desk with Mark Thomas is an insurance careers podcast hosted by Mark Thomas, a leading senior appointments recruiter in the UK. Each week, Mark interviews influential names and brightest minds in insurance, focusing on their career journeys, pivotal moments, and stories of success and resilience. The podcast provides insights and insider perspectives from global insurance technology leaders who are redefining the industry. Listeners can gain inspiration and practical advice for their own careers in insurance.
Episodes
The Making of a Technology Leader in Insurance with Jonathan Fletcher
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas is joined by Jonathan Fletcher, currently an Operating Advisor for mid-market private equity firm Abri, and former Group CTO of both CFC and Hiscox.Jonathan takes us right back to the beginning – from tinkering with a Commodore 64 as a kid, to a split degree in computer science and music, through early jobs at Saatchi & Saatchi and the Londo
Why Data Is Insurance’s Real Competitive Advantage with Usha Badrinath
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Usha Badrinath, Group Chief Data Officer at Mosaic Insurance, to explore her unconventional career journey, the rapidly changing role of technology in insurance, and what AI could mean for the industry over the coming years.Usha’s career has taken her from computer science and coding in India, through an MBA and technology consulting, to
The Unconventional Route into Underwriting with Jana Ratnajothy
What does it take to build a successful career in underwriting when you don't follow the conventional route?In this episode of Beyond the Desk: Underwriting Special, Sanj Vagad sits down with Jana Ratnajothy to explore her unconventional journey from law and claims into underwriting, and the experiences that have shaped her career along the way.Jana shares how 36 rejection letters eventually led t
The Art of Adapting to Change in Underwriting with Adam Curran
What does it really take to build a successful career in underwriting?In this episode of Beyond the Desk Underwriting Special, Sanj Vagad is joined by Adam Curran, Chief Underwriting Officer - Specialty, HDI Global, to explore his career from an unexpected start in insurance to senior leadership within one of the market’s major specialty businesses.Adam shares how an initial opportunity at Alexand
Why Getting Outside Your Comfort Zone Changes Everything with Charles Boorman
What does it take to build a successful career in underwriting?In this episode of Beyond the Desk Underwriting Edition, Sanj Vagad is joined by Charles Boorman to explore a career spanning broking, D&O, financial lines, underwriting leadership, turnarounds and the MGA market.Charles shares how he first fell into insurance before discovering that specialising in D&O was the turning point th
The Best of Beyond the Desk Season 2: Leadership, Talent & the Future of Insurance
What can we learn from the people shaping the future of insurance?In this special highlights episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas brings together some of the most insightful moments from conversations with senior leaders across the global insurance industry.Across the series, guests have explored everything from leadership and career development to AI, underwriting, talent, culture and the chan
25 Years in Cyber: Lessons from the Frontline with Scott Bailey
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Underwriting Mini Series, host Sanj Vagad sits down with Scott Bailey, Head of Global Cyber Underwriting at CFC.Scott looks back on a career spanning 25 years in cyber insurance, from joining Click for Cover (later CFC) as employee number two in 2001, through spells at CNA Hardy and Markel, to his return to CFC three and a half years ago. Along the way, he share
Building Underwriting Businesses That Last with Mark Fellows
In this episode of Beyond the Desk: Underwriting Edition, Sanjeev Vegad sits down with Mark Fellows, Divisional Director, Financial Lines, International at Westfield Specialty, to explore a career that spans claims, underwriting, leadership, and multiple successful business builds across the London insurance market.Mark shares how he accidentally fell into insurance after university, why a move to
Why Every Career Needs Calculated Risks with Talbir Singh Bains
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Sanjeev Vegad is joined by Talbir Singh Bains, founder of Volante Global and one of the insurance industry's most respected entrepreneurs.Talbir reflects on a career spanning QBE, Willis Re, Swiss Re, Dual and the creation of Volante, sharing the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy and entrepreneurial mindset.The conversation explores how to build
The Future of Underwriting: People, AI and Judgment with Simon Jackson
In this special Beyond the Desk: Underwriting Edition, host Sanjeev Vegad sits down with Simon Jackson, CEO of Amwins Underwriting, to discuss what it takes to build high-performing underwriting teams, embrace calculated career risks, and lead through one of the insurance industry's most transformative periods.Drawing on leadership experience at Amlin, Beazley and now Amwins, Simon shares the less
From Claims handler to CEO with Chris Barclay
What does it actually take to go from growing up in one of Glasgow's most deprived areas to becoming a CEO in the insurance industry without a university degree, without a clear plan, and without ever making CEO your goal?In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Chris Barclay, CEO of Superscript, for one of the most candid career conversations the show has delivered. Chris tr
Why Great Leaders Say Yes Before They're Ready with Sally Peace
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Sally Peace, Chief of Staff and HR Director at Apollo, to discuss an unconventional career that has spanned actuarial science, catastrophe modelling, operations, business planning, HR and executive leadership.Sally shares how embracing opportunities, rather than following a rigid career plan, helped shape her journey into one of the most
How Technology Is Transforming Insurance with John Wingate
Episode DescriptionIn this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by John Wingate, Chief Technology Officer at Envelop Risk, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming insurance and why technology should enhance people rather than replace them.John shares his fascinating journey from developing software for Rolls-Royce jet engines and military systems to leading one of the i
The Unconventional Road to COO with Carys Lawton-Bryce
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Carys Lawton-Bryce, Chief Operations Officer at Markel International, to explore her unconventional journey into executive leadership.From growing up in South Africa to leading large-scale operational transformation across one of the insurance industry's leading organisations, Karis shares how curiosity, calculated risk-taking and a co
What It Really Takes to Become a Chief People Officer with Kirk Southern, Chief People Officer at Howden
From a working-class upbringing in South Derbyshire to Chief People Officer at Howden, Kirk Southern shares the experiences, lessons and leadership principles that have shaped his career.In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Kirk discusses his unconventional route into HR, why curiosity and humility have been the biggest drivers of his success, and how the role of the Chief People Officer has evolve
Why the Future of Insurance Will Be Orchestrated, Not Built with Nigel Walsh, Global Head of Insurance at ServiceNow
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Nigel Walsh, Global Head of Insurance at ServiceNow.Nigel shares his journey from writing 210 letters trying to secure his first position at the start of his career to key leadership positions at some of the world's leading firms, including Capgemini, Deloitte, Google and his current position at ServiceNow.The conversation explores Nigel
The Evolution of the CDO Role in Insurance & Navigating the AI hype with Chris Pearce, CDO at esure
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Chris Pearce, Chief Data Officer at esure. Chris shares his fascinating journey from a childhood love of video games to leading one of the UK’s most advanced data and AI transformations in the insurance industry.We explore Chris’s academic path from mathematics to a PhD in epidemiology, his early career spanning banking, automotive, and
From Corporate Tech Leader to Independent: How David Clamp took to leap and ended up building The Camelot Network
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by David Clamp Founder of The Camelot Network, a network of independent consultants serving the insurance sector. From apprentice electronic engineer to insurance transformation leader and founder of a thriving network of 150+ independent experts, David Clamp’s career path has had some key milestones and changes in direction. In this episo
Not Your Typical CTO - Taking a different path to insurance tech leadership with Daren Rudd, VP Insurance Consulting at CGI
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Daren Rudd, Head of Insurance Business and Technology Consulting at CGI. Daren is a self-proclaimed "non-traditional CTO" whose route into insurance technology started not with a computer science degree, but a geography course and a job in marketing. Daren's path is a masterclass in curiosity, resilience and leadership that prioritises
Exploring the evolution of the insurance CTO with Paul Butler, CTO at Hiscox Re & ILS
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas by Paul Butler, newly appointed CTO of Hiscox Re & ILS and former CTO of Hiscox London Market. Paul’s journey is anything but typical. From writing code as a teenager on a ZX Spectrum to launching tech for startups in Borough Market and leading reinsurance innovation at one of the most recognised names in the London Market, his story is full of s
Neural Networks to Insurtech with Krishnan Ethirajan, Chief Digital & AI Officer at Mosaic Insurance
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Krishnan Ethirajan, Chief Digital & AI Officer at Mosaic Insurance. Krishnan shares his fascinating journey from studying neural networks in the 1980s to leading cutting-edge AI initiatives in the global insurance sector. With a background that spans academia, consulting, and executive leadership, Krishnan's career is anything but li
Building a COO Career from Code to Strategy with Ketan Motwani, COO at Arch Insurance
In this week's episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Ketan Motwani, COO at Arch Insurance, for a rich and refreshingly candid conversation about career reinvention, resilience, and rising through transformation. From rebelling at school in India to being parachuted into boardrooms in the UK, Ketan’s story spans military training, software engineering, Deloitte consulting, and execut
Decoding the Insurance CIO Journey with Arvinder Mudhar, Group CIO at IQUW
In this weeks episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Arvinder Mudhar, Group CIO of IQUW, whose career spans investment banking, global tech transformation, and the intricacies of the insurance world. From his first lines of BASIC code in East London to leading IT strategies across Mumbai, Geneva, and now London, Arvinder's journey is anything but typical.Key topics that we discusse
Hélène Stanway on the Leap from Leadership to Independent Advisor
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Hélène Stanway independent advisor and former Head of Digital & Innovation at AXA XL. With a career spanning more than 30 years across reinsurance, operations, digital innovation, and data, Hélène has carved a truly unique path through the insurance industry.In this wide-ranging conversation, we unpack her zigzag career jour
From Art Student to Tech Leader: The Unexpected Journey of Sally NG, Delivery Director at RSA
In this week's episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Sally Ng, Change and Technology Delivery Director at RSA. Sally shares her remarkable journey - from arriving in the UK as a child with no English language skills, to becoming a leading force in transformation delivery within one of the UK's most historic insurers.We explore her early creative passions, how growing up in a famil
From Harrods to Insurance & the journey to the C-Suite with Hasani Jess, CTO at Aventum Group
In this week's episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Hasani Jess, Group CTO at Aventum Group. Hasani shares his fascinating journey from an early love of technology (sparked by an old-school typewriter that his mum brought home!) through a career spanning global consulting firms, banking, healthcare, luxury retail, travel, and now, speciality insurance.We cover pivotal career mome
Making the Leap: From Software Engineer to Strategic Advisor, with Vandana Bhatia, Director at BCG
In this week's episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Vandana Bhatia, Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and globally experienced technology transformation leader, currently shaping strategy and innovation in the insurance sector. Her journey from building early chatbots in India to leading transformation for tier-one insurers across the US, UK and Europe is a fascinating on
Transformation as a Career: Mastering Change with David Greenwood, COO at IQUW
In this week's episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with David Greenwood, Chief Operating Officer at IQUW, a leading Lloyd's specialty underwriter. David shares a rich account of his extensive career, from his early days at the National Rifle Association to his pivotal roles at PA Consulting, Barclays, Tesco Bank, and beyond. Known for his expertise in transformation, David dives into
From Coder to CTO: The Path to Leadership with Al Robertson (CTO at ICE InsureTech)
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Al Robertson, CTO of ICE InsureTech, to discuss his journey from a passionate developer to an influential technology leader in the insurance sector. Al shares candid stories from his early days at John Lewis Partnership and RSA, through to taking the leap into the startup world and building transformative insurance platforms. With over
From self-taught programmer to CIO - The journey of Nicki Tang, CIO at Tokio Marine HCC
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas speaks with Nicki Tang, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Tokio Marine HCC. Nicki shares her fascinating journey into insurance technology leadership, key career decisions, lessons from overcoming challenges, and invaluable advice for aspiring leaders.Key Topics Covered:Nicki’s early career decision-making and initial reluctance to enter the IT
From Law School to Insurance CIO with Reno Daigle, CIO & Head of Business Transformation at CNA Hardy
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas sits down with Reno Daigle, CIO and Head of Business Transformation at CNA Hardy. Reno shares an inspiring journey from his early ambitions of practising law to becoming a global leader in insurance technology and transformation. He discusses pivotal career moments, how an MBA shifted his career trajectory, and the vital role of embracing change
Navigating modernisation through cloud and AI in Insurance with Matt Griffiths, Head of Cloud at Pheonix Group
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas sits down with Matt Griffiths, Head of Cloud at Pheonix Group to explore his fascinating career journey from retail banking to becoming a leader in cloud and technology within the insurance sector. Matt shares insights into the evolution of his career, the challenges he has faced, and the key lessons learned along the way. Key Topics Discussed:H
How AI and Data Are Reshaping the Insurance Landscape with David Tuppen, Chief Data Officer at Enstar
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas sits down with David, a seasoned Chief Data Officer with a rich background in consulting and insurance. David shares his professional journey, the pivotal decisions that shaped his career, and his thoughts on the evolving role of data in the insurance sector.From his early days in South Africa to leading data strategy in major insurance firms ac
From Trainee Underwriter to CEO: Andrew Passfield's journey to becoming ICE Insuretech's CEO
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas sits down with Andrew Passfield, CEO and co-founder of ICE Insuretech, to discuss his remarkable journey from trainee underwriter to leading a successful InsurTech business. Andrew shares his career story, pivotal moments, lessons learned, and insights on how ICE became a key player in the insurance technology space. They also explore how ICE gr
Shaping the Future of Insurance: Sandra Lewin on Transformation, Diversity & the Power of Your Network
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas interviews Sandra Lewin, a transformation and operations expert, consultant, and host of the successful 100 Women in Insurance podcast. Sandra shares her fascinating career journey, from growing up in Poland to navigating the Lloyd’s market, moving from broking to transformation, and eventually launching her own consulting ca
From Code to Strategy, Pablo Bawdekar's Journey into Insurance Architecture
Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Desk, where we take a deep dive into the careers of influential leaders in technology, transformation, and operations within global insurance and insurtech. In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas sits down with Pablo Bawdekar, a seasoned Chief Architect with extensive experience in insurance and Insurtech. Pablo shares his career journey, from
Navigating Transformation in Insurance with Sumesh Vijayakumar, Head of Claims Transformation at Beazley
Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Desk, where we take a deep dive into the careers of influential leaders in technology, transformation, and operations within global insurance and insurtech. This week, host Mark Thomas sits down with Sumesh Vijayakumar, Head of Claims Transformation at Beazley, to explore his journey to leading transformation initiatives in the insurance sector.In this insi
Innovation and Leadership in Insurance Tech with Giles Baxter, CIO Europe at Brown & Brown
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, host Mark Thomas sits down with Giles Baxter, CIO for Europe at Brown & Brown, to explore his remarkable career journey in technology, transformation, and leadership within the insurance sector.Giles shares his personal story, from starting in chemistry to entering tech by chance and how he navigated roles at Accenture, RSA, and other pivotal organisations.
Beyond The Desk - Trailer
Beyond the Desk is THE insurance careers podcast. The first episode is launching on Tuesday, 28th January. Watch full-length episodes on YouTube and connect with us on Linkedin for more content and insights.
