AIRROC's The Legacy Life

In this episode of The Legacy Life, we are joined by Connie O'Mara, independent arbitrator, mediator, expert witness, and member of AIRROC's Advisory Council.

Connie reflects on a career spanning more than four decades in the insurance and reinsurance industry, sharing stories from the early days of asbestos and environmental claims, the growth of the legacy market, and the mentors who helped shape her journey along the way.

The conversation also explores an unexpected turning point in Connie's career. As hearing loss changed the way she could work, she found a new path in arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution, building a successful second act in the industry.

Along the way, Connie shares insights on mentorship, professional relationships, adaptability, and what it means to build a lasting legacy.

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week on The Legacy Life, we are joined by Grace Hanson, Founder and CEO of Elysian. Before launching Elysian, Grace built an impressive career as a lawyer, claims professional, and Chief Claims Officer, handling some of the industry's most complex and high-exposure matters.

Grace shares the story behind Elysian's creation, including how conversations with her son, a software engineer, helped spark the idea for a platform designed to help claims professionals navigate increasingly complex claims files. Along the way, she discusses the role that technology and artificial intelligence can play in claims management, why human expertise remains essential, and the challenges organizations face when adopting new tools.

As a longtime participant in the runoff and legacy marketplace, Grace also reflects on the evolution of the legacy sector, the opportunities it presents for the next generation of insurance professionals, and the importance of remaining open to new ideas and perspectives.

For young professionals, Grace offers straightforward but powerful career advice: become exceptional at something, embrace difficult problems, and build a foundation of expertise that can open doors throughout your career.

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week on The Legacy Life, we are joined by Mory Katz, Head of ILS Casualty & Legacy at Juniper Re. Mory's career has spanned nearly every corner of the insurance industry, from his early days in claims and insurance analytics to leading a direct auto insurance company and ultimately becoming a recognized leader in the legacy and reinsurance market. Along the way, he has gained a unique perspective on how insurance, legacy solutions, and alternative capital are shaping the future of the industry. 

A longtime supporter of AIRROC and its NextGen initiatives, Mory discusses the evolution of the legacy market, the importance of attracting new talent to the industry, and why insurance plays a far greater role in society than many people realize. He encourages young professionals to stay curious, build a broad understanding of the business, and look beyond their area of specialization. According to Mory, the industry's future belongs not only to experts, but to those who can connect the dots across claims, underwriting, finance, reinsurance, and capital.

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week we are going international again as we are joined by Janic Schilling, Head of Legacy Origination at Swiss Re in Zurich, Switzerland. Janic heads up a team of legacy experts that find solutions for a wide range of clients and partners. Janic tells us about his career in legacy and how it ties in to his passion for football ("soccer" for our U.S. audience). He encourages young professionals to stay curious, show commitment to the profession, and maintain your professional network.

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week we are joined by @Steve Norrington, President and CEO of Cranmore. Steve offers tremendous insight from decades of experience in the industry, from his early days in London to his fateful decision to take a leap and move to Bermuda in his mid-20s and enter the legacy market, and now in his role as an executive for one of the industry's leading companies. 

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week we are joined by Ben Dovey, Head of Commercial & Operations at Xitus and a member of the NextGen Council. Ben joins us all the way from Bermuda (by way of Makhanda, South Africa) where he manages a plethora of activities for Xitus, from capital management to deal pricing, operations, and investment strategy. Ben also provides some great advice for young professionals in the legacy space, encouraging listeners to take ownership of their careers and go for the opportunities they want. Thanks for joining us, Ben!

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

Our guest this week is Elaine Caprio, Chief Reinsurance Officer of R&Q Re in Liquidation and a member of AIRROC's Board of Directors. Elaine takes us through her career path, starting in legal and environmental claims for Liberty Mutual and becoming their first dedicated reinsurance counsel, to her current position at R&Q Re in Liquidation and as an independent arbitrator, mediator, and consultant. Elaine provides valuable insight for professionals at every stage of their careers, encouraging listeners to nurture their professional networks and keep their eyes open for new opportunities. 

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week, we’re joined by Dawn Ballin, Senior Vice President and Head of Claims at Enstar Group (U.S.) and Chair of AIRROC’s Board of Directors. She reflects on the experiences that shaped her career, where she is today, and why staying open to new opportunities matters. Dawn offers practical insights for professionals at every stage, along with a look at what’s ahead for AIRROC under the Board’s leadership. 

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

This week, we’re joined by Robbie Kerr and Louis Isaacson of PwC’s Corporate Liability Restructuring team in London. Robbie and Louis were part of the team behind PwC’s sixteenth Global Non-Life Run-Off Survey, presented last October in Jersey City.

In this conversation, we explore how to position the legacy market for a new generation of purpose-driven professionals and highlight the wide range of opportunities available to those who are willing to lean in, stay curious, and get involved.

Thank you to Robbie and Louis for the insightful discussion!

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html 

Our guest this week is Samit Bin Alam, the 2025 winner of the Trish Getty Scholarship. Samit is a senior at St. John's University in New York, majoring in quantitative risk & insurance. We cover a breadth of topics with Samit, ranging from his post graduation plans, to the insurance market in his home country of Bangladesh. Samit also shares the story of when he learned that he had been selected for the Trish Getty Scholarship. Thanks for joining us, Samit, and we can't wait to see what you do next!

This podcast is brought to you by AIRROC, the ONLY U.S. organization dedicated to insurance and reinsurance companies with legacy business in their portfolios. We serve as the convening hub of the legacy market, bringing companies together to advance transactions, share expertise, develop leaders, and strengthen the industry. Learn more about what we do at AIRROC.org or https://www.airroc.org/

Find more information about AIRROC NextGen at https://www.airroc.org/nextgen.html