(Re)Connect 2020 - Executive Roundtable
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(Re)Connect 2020 - Executive Roundtable

Click here to download the (Re)Connect Executive Roundtable supplement

It's always fascinating to bring together executives from across the global reinsurance market for a 90 minute debate, but doing it in September, normally in Monte Carlo but this year virtually, and half way through the hurricane season, adds an extra layer of spice.

Behind invite-only Zoom doors, this relaxed but focused grouping of leaders from across insurance, reinsurance and broking voiced forthright and sometimes surprising views on the major issues of the day, including M&A, the level of capital entering the marketplace, whether the fundamentals are there for a truly hard market and - of course in 2020 - Covid-19 and how the market has performed during the pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, M&A was one of the more lengthy sections of discussion, but rather than being overly focused on the soon to be Big Two of reinsurance broking, there was instead an optimism that the near-duopoly would result in a number of upsides for intermediary clients, as those smaller brokers fight to demonstrate their specialisms, technology capabilities and data analytics.

Elsewhere, there was agreement that the market had done well to function through the lockdown and beyond, and that operationally it had proven it could trade remotely and through e-placements only.

The lack of enforced work-travel almost meant that all senior staff were pretty much always available, which had led to swift decision making on some major plays.

But there was much handwringing and sighing at the ongoing issues around coverage disputes, and regardless of the outcome of various international court hearings and regulatory decisions, greater specificity on wording and a renewed sense of urgency about the need for public-private initiatives to truly get a handle on systemic risks was considered a must-have for the remainder of 2020 and beyond.

Much of the discussion also centred on the potential for Covid-19 to result in not just more efficient businesses, but better resourced ones – ones that attracted talent from outside of the usual recruitment grounds and encourages new ways of working more flexibly.

Inside the pages of this special supplement, you’ll see some of the highlights of this Chatham House discussion, presented in a variety of engaging formats.

We hope you find this design more digestible and informative than the traditional transcript, and welcome your feedback!

Charlie Thomas

Content Director

Insider Publishing Group

Click here to download the (Re)Connect Executive Roundtable supplement

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