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INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP

International Working Group

All Council member firms that are involved in global placements and/or have interest in growing their international practice are encouraged to get involved with the International Working Group. The goal of the group is to offer an open forum for brokers and agents with global placements to exchange views with peers, strengthen existing ties with the most innovative and entrepreneurial companies and launch new partnerships with sectorial leaders from major global markets.

The International Working Group facilitates dialogue on broad issues that directly affect firms’ overseas business and fosters a collaborative environment through informal and interactive exchanges. We ensure that members have access to current market intelligence and offer a forum to address firms’ operational and servicing challenges with cross-border placements. These international challenges include:

  • Regulatory environment: International taxation and regulatory developments
  • International placement: Applied issues of placing international coverage
  • Human Resources: Recruitment and operational best practices
  • Market information: International benchmarking and market intelligence
  • Operational IT issues: IT application, management systems and data analytics
  • Cybersecurity and online data: Cybersecurity, data privacy and data protection
  • Skills development: Talent and leadership development and retention

Resources

  • Virtual Meetings

    April 10, 2024 | Red Sea Crisis

    The meeting discussed global marine and cargo insurance trends, focusing on the Red Sea and Black Sea regions. Panelists Camilla Gower (Tokio Marine HCC) and Brook Styles (Markel) shared insights on war risks, including piracy aspects and stock throughput policies. The emphasis was on the evolving risk landscape in the Red Sea due to incidents involving Houthi rebels targeting vessels, which is impacting trade routes and shipping operations. Finally, the experts discussed the potential implications of the risks on wider insurance markets beyond the marine industry, showing how geopolitical tensions affect maritime operations significantly.

     

    April 5, 2023 | Global Brokerage M&A

    The meeting discussed global trends regarding merger & acquisition activities in the insurance brokerage sector. Panelists Tomos Ashfield (Ardonagh), Ed Bowler (USI), Drew Pippin (IMA), and John Plummer (Ardonagh) shared that new M&A strategies are being implemented to mitigate elevated valuations. The pace of M&A activity has slowed since the peak in 2021, but many acquirers (either brokerages or PE-firms) continue to find great value and opportunities in the current market – both nationally and internationally. According to the experts, while some valuations have decreased, pricing for A+ firms has remained extremely high.

     

    October 2, 2021 | International Working Group

    The International Working Group continues developing a candid conversation between corporate risk managers and brokers on fundamental questions around client engagement, and explores how the pandemic and hard market affected policyholders’ risk profile and relationship with carriers and consultants. The second panel features an interview with EY’s expert Taffy Jo Mayers on trends that shape the future insurance market and offers insights on how stakeholders should position themselves for success.

     

    September 30, 2020 | Risk Management Insights

    Risk managers Mitch Aucoin (Marriott) and Jaap Vroljik (Bechtel) shared their assessment of the global risk landscape and brokers’ role in navigating the pandemic. In addition, defense attorney Gavin Kealey, who represented MS Amlin and Ecclesiastical in the U.K. business interruption test case, provided his insights on the hearings and the judgment of September 15.

     

    June 25, 2020 | Emerging Pandemic Risks in Food Sector

    Peter Rosiere, Vice President for Risk Management at Sodexo, a global leader in food services and facility management, shares the industry’s perspective on emerging risks and safety protocols under the pandemic. He also provides insights on how the pandemic shaped the company’s operational risks and global supply chain, what challenges were confronted while returning to work, and how brokers can add value.

     

    June 1, 2020 | Analyzing Global Survey on Brokerage Operations

    An in-depth conversation about The Council’s global survey results on members’ operational practices and trends in client services, covering topics like pandemic plans, operational practices, mode of operation, and client interactions. Participants shared insights on how companies adapted to remote work and virtual meetings during the pandemic. Additionally, Chris Croft (LIIBA) discussed the evolving role of London as a global insurance hub post-pandemic, and implications of Brexit on UK’s interaction with Europe.

     

    May 7, 2020 | Return to Work in the New Normal

    The meeting discussed the challenges and strategies related to returning to work amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers Donna Lynch (Antea) and Xenia Whitacre (Solvay) shared insights on managing risks, regulatory requirements, monitoring protocols compliance, and optimizing insurance solutions for a changing work environment. The session also highlighted new employer requirements such as adapting business operations, implementing health and safety measures, and addressing workforce changes.

     

    April 16, 2020 | Pandemic and Brokers’ Global Response

    The meeting discussed pandemic responses and insurance strategies, like event cancellations, cyber claims, communicable disease exclusions in renewals, and innovative insurance products for specific industries like cruise lines. Panelists Laurent Gizardin (Ascoma), John Eltham (Miller), and Jonathan Hsieh (Pacific Prime) shared insights on Africa’s response to the pandemic, China’s insurance incentives, and London’s market trends amidst COVID-19. The session highlighted the importance of technology adoption in the industry and ongoing efforts to address future pandemic risks with public-private collaborations.

  • Download Our Past Meeting Recaps