Weathering Winter Weather Risks

Before more freezing weather, heavy snow or ice arrives this winter, now is the time for business owners to prepare and reduce their risk of property damage...

Spotlight on global programs

Introduction by Shiwei Jin, Global Programs & Captives Regional Director APAC, AXA XL, a division of AXA ...

Savvy global travelers have a trained eye on Political Risk

The next time your travels find you in a foreign country, look around. Chances are you will find clues to that country’s political and credit risks. Because...

Captives: weathering the ups and downs of the insurance market

By Matt Latham, Head of Global Programs and Captives at AXA XL Trends in the wider insurance market have always had an impact on the captive market....

The view from Asia: Adapting to a changing market

By Zoe Xie, Client and Distribution Leader, Asia, AXA XL, a division of AXA As rates trend upward, new risks emerge, and traditional risks become more...

E-cigarettes, an emerging risk

E-cigarettes have been on our watchlist of emerging risks for the past several years. A recent outbreak of severe pulmonary disease in the U.S., coupled...

Analysing flood events to build back better

DOWNLOAD THE DISASTER RECOVERY CASE STUDY: UK FLOODS 2007 DOWNLOAD THE DISASTER RECOVERY CASE STUDY: FLOODING IN GERMANY 2013     It’s no accident that...

A market of opportunity: what buyers of international programmes need to know about Indonesia

Q. What are some of the major opportunities and challenges for clients in Indonesia? A. Indonesia has the world’s fourth-largest population and is predicted...

Making inclusion work: putting words into practice

I have spent my entire career – more than 25 years and counting – in insurance, and I’m proud to see how the industry has changed over that time to become...

Brazil: a market of both challenge and opportunity for risk managers with global programmes

What are some of the challenges that companies operating in Brazil face currently? The recent economic downturn and slow recovery, of course, represent...

Gently down the stream: How international insurance programmes can help manage large and evolving energy risks

What trends are you seeing in the management and transfer of downstream energy risk?While it varies from client to client and across different geographies,...

Stormy weather: Preparing property to ride out more frequent & severe convective storms

Warm air rises. It’s a lesson that many of us remember from science class. When it does, carrying moisture with it, it results in an atmospheric phenomenon...

Realizing the benefits of global programs

After several decades of experience, the benefits of global insurance programs for multinational clients – notably improved capital efficiencies, more...

Safer Travels: 5 tips to avoid being an easy target

Who doesn’t love to travel? Not many according to travel industry statistics. Americans traveling for business and leisure took 2.3 billion domestic trips...

Costs of corruption weigh heavily on nations' future growth

Whether it occurs in a small developing economy, a petrostate or a G20 nation, corruption is a costly problem. Allowed to continue unabated, corruption...

Commercial bonds ensure good things happen

One of the most famous lines in film is, “My name is Bond. James Bond.” Audiences accustomed to seeing the stylish spy dashing in to save the day might...

Cause, effect, consequence: Assessing natural hazards

The City of San Francisco recently announced that it was partnering with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on a project to model Pacific storms....

Made in India: A Growing Market and the Opportunities for International Insurance

Why are overseas companies keen to invest and grow in India?India is currently one of the largest economies in the world, with the third-highest gross...

There’s a 100% chance a hurricane will strike somewhere in 2019. Be prepared!

Don’t know why there’s no Severe Weather Preparedness Plan for your business? With the start of hurricane season now’s not the time to whistle that tune...it’s...

Let's Talk: Building a complete risk picture

Extreme storms, wildfires and droughts caused heavy Nat Cat losses in 2018, resulting in approximately USD 90 billion annual Nat Cat loss to insurance...

Are new data sources *sparking joy* for underwriting and claims?

Decluttering expert Marie Kondo asks a single question when determining whether a piece of clothing or a book should stay in the house or be thrown out:...

Reinsurers shifting focus from cat business

Reinsurers face a challenge because “if they are retaining less cat business by using alternative capital, this also erodes profitability”, he told DWIC...

Safety in art transport packed with the utmost care and without the slightest damage

In early February 1748, Baron Heinrich Jakob Häckel sent a small painting depicting the holy family in a landscape setting, plus a copperplate print of...

Benefits and risks of building with Cross Laminated Timber

Widely used in Europe, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is one of the newest and hottest topics and materials in American construction today. It’s strong,...

New IMO regulation calls for a sharp reduction in ships' sulphur emissions

During my career as a Master Mariner, Port Captain and now Marine Risk Engineer, I’ve seen how the remarkable evolution of the maritime shipping industry...

Belt and road how risk managers can use global programmes in a transforming region

Commercial insurtech is like an exclusive club — and you’re invited

This piece was originally published in TechCrunch. Tech companies and VCs in the insurance space have probably read many articles about Amazon and Google...

The return of nationalism

The article was first published in S-RM’s Political Violence bulletin.From Trump’s “America First” to the ever-looming Brexit, nationalist movements have...

Expect the unexpected: what will 2019 hold for risk managers with international programmes?

As we enter 2019, Owen Williams, head of the captive centre of excellence at XL Catlin, now part of AXA XL, a division of AXA Group, considers what risk...

Investing in the future

If you had asked me when I was 12 what I wanted to do when I grow up, I would have answered: “I want to travel the world. And wear a tie”.Some years later,...

Avoiding the holiday hustle

It’s that time of year when we all need to brace ourselves for not only the bustle of the holiday season, but for the potential hustle in the bustle too. Crime...

What were you thinking? An exploration of human bias in subcontractor selection

This article has been republished with permission as an IRMI Expert Commentary. Subcontractor defaults on construction projects can be catastrophic, which...

Sea-change: how technology is changing the transportation of goods

For hundreds of years, merchants have transported their wares across land and sea trying to find the delicate balance between getting their goods to their...

More mindful data protection

We’re all so busy. So many things are tugging at our attention.  Way too many distractions continuously draw us away from the important tasks at hand. ...

Data dystopia: what does the future hold for data privacy?

As cyber underwriters, a big part of our job is to be curious, to piece together “what-ifs” to try to analyse as yet unknown or untested risks. Our role...

Rise in US federal securities class action filings impacting companies with US exposures

How to Keep Ahead of Evolving Fine Art and Specie Risks

Fine art and specie is a class of insurance available to clients across sectors and in countries around the world. Graham Hawkins, global chief underwriting...

D&I: Turning awareness into action

Since the first Dive In Festival took place in 2014, we have been an enthusiastic participant in, and sponsor of, this insurance industry-wide event promoting...

Diving deep into government pools

In 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that there were 16 separate “billion-dollar” disasters with losses totaling more...

Lights, camera, insurance: risk transfer for the movie business

Films are big business; global box office revenue is predicted to reach $50 billion in 2020. As with any large, global business, making films involve myriad,...

Let's talk: The nature of terrorism is changing

Recent tragic events have highlighted that the terrorism risk continues to evolve. Mark Steddon, Senior Underwriter Terrorism & Political Violence at XL...

Into Africa: how risk managers can use global programmes as part of their strategy in this fast-changing area

There has been an uptick in protectionism in the insurance markets of many African countries, with regulators imposing measures such as compulsory domestic...

People risk in international programs

It is often said that the human workforce is a company’s most precious asset. And as companies of all sizes continue to expand, and more employees travel...

Mitigating Cyber Risk via Captives

Increasingly challengingThe reality today is that virtually every individual and organization is vulnerable to a cyberattack, and the nature of the threat...

When the going gets tough the tough do risk management

There’s an ultramarathon race in Tennessee so tough that only 15 people have completed it within the time limit since it began back in 1986. The way to...

Let's Talk: Payment Services Directive

Q. What is the EU’s second Payment Services Directive?Angelos Deftereos: The EU’s second Payment Services Directive – known as PSD2 – came into force in...

Risks and opportunities in South Africa and Chile

Emerging markets are key areas for growth for multinational companies across all industries. Economic growth means a growing need for insurance and reinsurance....

New EU Regulations on Medical Devices Explained

What do pacemakers, condoms and dental fillings have in common? They are all classified medical devices that serve a medical purpose. And because humans...

Kidnap and ransom: From the French Robin Hood to a global risk

It takes a lot of chutzpah to attempt to kidnap the judge who sentenced you to a jail term. But that is exactly what gangster Jacques Mesrine, known as...

5 Ways to keep flood waters out of your business

The 2017 hurricane season produced 17 named storms, 10 of which became hurricanes — six of those major hurricanes, including the first two major hurricanes,...

XL Catlin innovations rise to help clients navigate sea of changing risks

Setting sail from Punta Del Este, Uruguay on October 4, 2017 Sarah completed two legs of an 8-leg journey which took her almost over a quarter of the way...

The Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap; it’s a hot topic at the moment. But what exactly is it?The gender pay gap is a measure of the difference between the average earnings...

Ocean risk: how insurers can lead the way in building resilience

Ever since the days of Edward Lloyd’s coffee shop more than three-hundred years ago, the insurance and reinsurance industry has been intrinsically linked...

Cyber risk modeling comes of age

Ten million per month – that’s how many hacking attempts the head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management said her agency was able to thwart each month...

Building an open communication culture

Underwriting construction projects has changed over the years. Gary Kaplan, President, North America Construction, has seen a lot in his 39 year career....

Going green: how environmental liability exposures can be managed in global programmes

With both public and regulatory scrutiny of environmental damage on the increase, and the potential for large clean-up and remediation costs, environmental...

Talk to the Loss Adjuster; why communication is key for claims in global programmes

When a loss occurs, clear and timely communication with loss adjusters is vital to ensure claims are resolved successfully.  When they are structuring...

Focused on the Future

Imagine you are at a seminar and you hear your job described as one of the ten most likely to be replaced by an algorithm in the future. What do you do?...

Where are all our Christmas trees?

“The Christmas trees stand packed together at the little stand on the street corner. Lit only by floodlights, each tree is indistinguishable in the little...

The Impact of GDPR: EU data protection meets US-based business

Privacy regulations in the United States have nothing on those in the European Union (EU).In fact, the newly minted General Data Protection Regulation...

The right to be forgotten

In 2010, an attorney named Mario Costeja Gonzalez asked the Spanish Data Protection Agency to request that the newspaper La Vanguardia remove two small...

Insurtech Connect 2017: Insurers and Insurtechs both swiping right

Insurtech enthusiasts,Last week I attended Insurtech Connect Conference in Las Vegas. The conference kicked off less than twenty-four hours after last...

October and November: A Dangerous Time to Drive

There have been many studies done on when it is most dangerous to drive.  Some studies look at when the most auto accident fatalities occur and others...

Becoming a leader and bridging the gap between personal and professional

The insurance industry is not known as one of the most diverse industries. A lot remains to be done to boost diversity and inclusion within our companies...

Drones_Unmanned Aerial Systems in the Drilling Industry

IntroductionUnmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) or “drones” are quickly changing the way construction companies do business, and offer solutions to many complex...

The Case for Covering DO in a Global Program

For many Spanish companies, expanding into new markets outside Spain has proved to be a productive path to profitable growth.When Spain’s and much of the...

Redeveloping the Urban Core

By the end of 2015, the millennial population (individuals aged 18-34) reached 75.4 million, surpassing the Baby Boomer population of 74.9 million.1 That...

The office printer: a weak link in your security regime?

First published by Strategic Risk.“First, I got control of their printers. Then, I got control of their network. Then, I got control of their data... Along...

Size of social engineering attacks growing

Businesses around the world are facing greater exposure to social engineering attacks, and the stakes are getting a lot higher.​Only a few years ago, a...

Why event cancellation insurance is a necessity, not a luxury

This article was first published in TTG MICE.The growth in events held across Asia-Pacific can be witnessed throughout countries such as Thailand and China,...

Building a global programme for construction

First published in  Commercial Risk Europe.After a period of contraction following the economic crisis of 2008, the Spanish construction industry is once...

We need to listen to the fish

Are fish trying to tell us something important about climate change? We believe they are and we need to listen.Fish are a key indicator of change in the...

What's a steering wheel?

For many people, seeing or riding in an autonomous vehicle will be their first direct encounter in everyday life with a sophisticated machine that incorporates...

The future of farming? Plant the sea.

Experts predict that agricultural production needs to increase by 60 percent in the next 30 years to feed a global population of nine billion people.That’s...

One Size Shouldn't Fit All: Aboveground Storage Tank Risk-Based Integrity Assessments

For companies that have above ground storage tanks (ASTs) containing petroleum products and hazardous materials it is vital to have a proper integrity...

Confronting the ongoing terrorist threat in Southeast Asia

A suicide bomber attacked a police station in Central Java, Indonesia, on 5 July, the last day of Ramadan, killing himself and injuring a police officer...

The Full Cost of Cargo Thefts

Stand and deliver …​“Highwaymen” have been plying their trade throughout Europe for hundreds of years; the word first appeared in print in 1617. For today’s...

Specifics make the difference in cyber cover

If there ever was an insurance product where the devil is in the details, it’s cyber. How coverage is written has and will continue to determine whether...

On Our Radar: Drones

The number of drones taking to the skies is unprecedented. The global consumer market topped $720 million in 2014 and is expected to double in 2015. In...

Cyber security in Asia

Asia has been slower in mitigating against cyber-security lapses than other countries, as there have been comparatively fewer cases of cyber-attacks in...

Driverless Trucks and Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

In May 2015, Daimler began testing what it called the world’s first, licensed autonomous truck on Nevada public roads. Promotional material1 for the Daimler...

Data Centers - Internet technology expansion yields increased environmental risk

According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the data center sector could double in size in the next several years....

Making good decisions about risk

A popular habit at New Year’s is to make resolutions for the coming year. It’s not a bad idea, but many people, including me, have a hard time following...

Restoring Europes Aged and Stressed Infrastructure

Faded GloryEurope’s economy is on a painstaking road to recovery, marching on legs creaking with age. The European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities...

Black Swan Blackout

A black swan event, according to Nassim Taleb, is a highly improbable event with a massive impact. A supraregional blackout that stops every life-sustaining...

Sparks of Genius_Coffee and Cover

Insurance is almost as old as civilization. According to numerous sources, it goes back at least 5,000 years to Mesopotamia and the use of interest rates....

Cyber Shock

  Fast Focus Although third-party liability coverage is important,...

New EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Guidelines

On Monday, July 15, 2014, the federal government issued new guidelines designed to protect pregnant workers from on-the-job discrimination. For the first...

On the Business End of a Stiletto: Could E-Tracking Cargo Save Your Life?

Mark Twain said: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.”Thus fashion weathered the recession with positive, if not...

XL's Mike McGavick Challenges Insurers to be Daring Innovators

In recent episode of A.M. BestTV, Michael S. McGavick, chief executive officer of XL Group Ltd, explains how insurers should look to be more daring and...

Looking Forward: D&B's Global Economic Outlook

If only we had a crystal ball.  Our decisions – both in business and life -- would be easier to make.  We’d have more information to give us clearer direction...

Kidnap Hotspots of the World

One of the most spectacular, mass kidnap-for-ransom incidents occurred a little more than year ago on January 16, 2013. In the early morning hours in a...

Let's Talk about Risk

A staggering variety of tools designed to provide insight and help improve decision-making is available to risk managers today. Most of them utilize advanced...

The good the bad and the ugly

Over the past three years insurers have seen record levels of catastrophe claims. To take just one event, the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami was...

Not Another Leadership Article

Try this: log on to Amazon.com and search the term “leadership.” When I was working on this article, that search yielded 116,863 hits. So what does Gary...

To Share, or Not to Share?

Mammoth Prototypes of Single-Supplier RiskIn quick succession, first the volcanic ash from Iceland in 2010, and then the 2011 tsunami in Japan followed...

Bigger Greener and More Intelligent Air Travel

Empty Coffers and the Capacity CrunchIn April 2013, the Skytrax survey of 12 million airline passengers confirmed that 12 of the best 25 airports worldwide...

Cybercrime is the greatest threat to an organizations' survival today

Technology is ever evolving and our reliance on it opens an organization’s vulnerability to cyber attack through greater online presence, broader use of...

BYODs Blurred Lines

Getting the latest technology has become a bit of a sport. Tech-savvy individuals keep a close ear to the ground on new launch dates, strategize on store...

The Great Wail of China

Economy Exceeds ExpectationsIn 1978, the economy and morale were still feeling the effects of over a decade of Maoist policies. Home to nearly a billion...

3D Printing: The Holographic, Green City

Hundertwasser’s Dream The Austrian-born painter and architect who dubbed himself Friedensreich Hundertwasser was convinced that dreary, repetitive, unimaginative...

Risk of Short Term Thinking in Insurance

If ever there were an industry where quarterly reporting of results brought unintended consequences, it would be insurance.For many industries, quarters...

How to Make Friends and Influence People on Social Networks

Human Nature in a Virtual World2.4 billion of the world’s 7 billion citizens are internet users.Google alone process 100 billion searches per month, 3.3...

Managing a Risky Mission

In June, the city of Alameda, California got bigger. The city regained control of 1,380 acres of bay-front land that it had formerly turned over to the...

Genome Sequencing: What It Could Mean For Health and Human Rights

Disruptive TechnologyDisruptive technology is innovation which upends an industry, engenders an entirely new market, or fundamentally alters the way society...

The Globetrotter’s Guide to Property Risk: XL Group’s Location Management System

The dashboard voice escorts drivers seamlessly through foreign territory to new destinations. You may call it Gloria, or a slightly less charitable name...

CSR by Nigel Bamber

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a phrase which has, over the past decade, become increasingly heard in the boardroom. Whole sections of annual...

Knowledge Power Beyond Intuition

The Sprinkler Revolutionized Fire Fighting To protect his piano factory in New Haven, Connecticut, Henry Parmalee invented the automatic fire-sprinkler...

Asegurar la cadena de suministro de alimentos

Introducción por  Joan LanzagortaClient & Distribution Leader para México en XL GroupMuchas empresas de alimentos en Latinoamérica no sólo venden productos...

Lets Talk Programmes internationaux et RC aux Etats Unis

Les États-Unis sont l’une des plus grandes économies au monde. Il est donc naturel que nombre d’entreprises cherchent à s’y implanter. En même temps, l’environnement...