Making Risk Flow | The Future of Insurance

Insurance is becoming more complex, but the way the industry works doesn’t have to be. In this compilation episode of Making Risk Flow, Juan de Castro and Jake Harding bring together insights from Luke Bills of Liberty Mutual, Patrick Meehan of Dun & Bradstreet, Simon de la Hoyde and Mark Varley of AddressCloud, and Ann Haugh of AXIS Capital to explore how technology can remove friction across the insurance value chain.

From eliminating repetitive data entry and rekeying to enabling submissionless quoting, trusted identity, real-time APIs, and richer risk data, the conversation examines what it takes to build genuinely connected insurance workflows. The guests explore how AI can move beyond improving inefficient processes to fundamentally redesigning how work gets done, while allowing underwriters and brokers to focus on judgment rather than administration.

The result is a vision of insurance where data flows seamlessly, decisions build on previous work, and technology enables people to focus on understanding and managing risk.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

What if the biggest opportunity for insurance AI isn't better automation, but better data?

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding sits down with Patrick Meehan, Senior Solution Director at Dun & Bradstreet UK – Insurance Services, to explore why trusted business data, entity resolution, and continuous monitoring are becoming critical to the future of commercial insurance. They discuss why insurers need to move beyond fragmented, policy-by-policy snapshots toward a shared view of the customer across underwriting, claims, compliance, and renewal. 

Patrick also explores the hidden concentration risks within seemingly diversified portfolios, the challenges of building and maintaining data infrastructure at scale, and why insurers should start with measurable business problems rather than massive enterprise data projects. Tune in to discover how connected data can reduce duplication, improve risk visibility, and help insurers build workflows designed for AI.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

What if the future of insurance isn't about bigger consolidation, but smarter specialization?

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro sits down with Igno van Waesberghe, Managing Partner at Aquiline, to explore why MGAs and specialized brokers are reshaping the industry, how AI is fundamentally changing personal lines distribution, and the key strategies that separate durable insurance businesses from the rest. Packed with candid insights on broker consolidation across the Atlantic, the rise of alternative capital, and where real value is being captured in AI-enabled platforms, this conversation cuts through the hype to reveal what actually drives success in modern insurance. Tune in to discover why specialization, talent alignment, and technology integration are the real competitive advantages reshaping insurance today.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

What if you could eliminate the tedious data rekeying that eats up agents' days and instead focus on what truly matters: understanding risk and serving clients?

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro sits down with Luke Bills, President of Independent Agent Distribution at Liberty Mutual, to explore how AI and automation can remove friction from insurance workflows. They discuss how technologies such as email-to-quote, API-driven processes, and SubmissionLess can eliminate repetitive data rekeying and streamline risk submissions. Luke explains why insurers should decouple intake channels from underwriting processes and use risk complexity, not premium size alone, to determine how submissions are handled. 

The conversation also explores how AI can amplify the value of independent agents by freeing them to focus on risk management, client relationships, and growth. Finally, Juan and Luke examine the importance of responsible AI governance, including model validation, privacy, human oversight, and cross-functional collaboration, when deploying AI across the insurance industry. 

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this Greatest Hits episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding speaks with Bryan Falchuk, author of the Future of Insurance series, about why insurance’s next competitive edge lies in intelligence, not efficiency. Bryan argues that carriers focus too heavily on operational optimisation when profitability depends on understanding and managing loss ratios. He introduces the “how might we” mindset as a way to break through cultural resistance and reframe constraints as opportunities. 

The conversation explores AI as a bridge between legacy systems and modern analytics, enabling transformation without massive system overhauls. Bryan also examines how misaligned incentives, complacency, and leadership hubris quietly undermine long-term strategy. Ultimately, he makes the case that curiosity, humility, and proactive risk intelligence will define the insurers that thrive in an era of rapid technological change.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro brings together eight leaders from across insurance, technology, insurtech, and brokerage to explore how AI, operating model transformation, and modern technology architecture are reshaping the future of insurance.

Ann Haug, David McMillan, Christian Stobbs, Kristoffer Lundberg, Greg Brown, Sam Lewis, Allison Hamilton, and Nick Zerbib examine why insurers need more than new technology to gain a competitive advantage. The discussion explores building operating models for scale, creating decision-led technology architectures, accelerating underwriting workflows, and using AI to augment human judgment rather than simply automate existing processes.

The group also considers AI-driven claims transformation, intelligent submission routing, the future role of underwriters, customer obsession, and how brokers can prepare for growing market and private equity pressures. Together, these perspectives reveal how culture, technology, speed, and strategic clarity can help insurers become more agile, scalable, and resilient in an increasingly competitive market.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this Greatest Hits episode of Making Risk Flow, host Juan de Castro is joined by Jean-Jacques Henchoz (JJ), Non-Executive Director, Brit Insurance, and a non-executive director across the insurance value chain, to explore the future of insurance. With over 25 years of industry experience, JJ shares his perspectives on how insurers can remain relevant by addressing protection gaps, improving affordability, and embracing cultural and technological transformation. 

The discussion highlights how AI, automation, and innovation are reshaping customer experience while reducing inefficiencies. Juan and JJ also examine the importance of attracting tech-savvy talent, breaking down silos, and fostering collaboration across the sector. Packed with insights, this conversation offers a roadmap for insurers seeking to stay customer-centric and resilient in a rapidly evolving world.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, host Jake Harding brings together ten leaders from across insurance, data, and technology to explore how spatial intelligence, real-time data, and climate modeling are reshaping risk assessment and underwriting. 

Mark Varley, Simon De La Hoyde, Izik Lavy, Jacob Grob, Joan Saladich, Caroline Grey, Pierre-Henri Janssens, Bryan Falchuk, Jay Wallace, and Nick Franz examine why insurers need more than greater data volumes to gain an advantage. The discussion explores point-of-quote accumulation, property-level geospatial analysis, probabilistic climate intelligence, and the value of embedding spatial context early in underwriting workflows. 

The group also considers emerging opportunities in post-binding cyber intervention and agricultural risk data, while examining how integrated technology, proactive portfolio analysis, and clean-sheet thinking can improve risk selection, profitability, and long-term competitive advantage across insurance markets.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

In this Greatest Hits episode of Making Risk Flow, we revisit host Juan de Castro’s conversation with David McMillan, former CEO of esureGroup, to unpack how a mid-sized insurer reinvented itself under private equity ownership. Facing COVID-19, reserve pressures, a soft market, and geopolitical disruption, the company leaned into culture, clarity, and modern technology to outpace larger rivals. David shares why building a high-performing team starts with shared values, how blending insurance expertise with external digital talent accelerates innovation, and why cloud-native, API-driven architecture is essential for real-time decision-making. 

He also explains how to shift boards from traditional ROI forecasts to agile, outcome-based governance. It’s a candid conversation about resilience, leadership under pressure, and why staying smaller, more agile, and hence, faster can be a lasting competitive advantage.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's

What if operational excellence wasn't about cutting costs, but about unlocking your organization's true potential?

In this episode of Making Risk Flow, Juan de Castro speaks with Ann Haugh, Group Chief Operations Officer at Axis Capital, about why operations should be viewed as a strategic growth engine rather than a cost center. Ann shares how Axis transformed its operating model to improve efficiency while scaling the business, the importance of building cross-functional talent, and how leaders can create alignment across technology, data, and underwriting. 

She also explores the role of AI in specialty insurance, explaining how automation can enhance employee experience, empower underwriters to make better decisions, and help organizations grow with greater speed, clarity, and resilience.

Ann Haugh is Group Chief Operations Officer at Axis Capital and a global (re)insurance leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning strategy, underwriting, operations, and general management. She has led transformational programs, improved underwriting performance, driven profitable growth, and built high-performing teams worldwide, earning a reputation for inspirational leadership, innovation, and delivering lasting business impact.

Fan Mail: Got a challenge digitizing your intake? Share it with us, and we’ll unpack solutions from our experience at Cytora.

To receive a custom demo from Cytora, click here and use the code 'Making Risk Flow'.

Our previous guests include: Bronek Masojada of PPL, Craig Knightly of Inigo, Andrew Horton of QBE Insurance, Simon McGinn of Allianz, Stephane Flaquet of Hiscox, Matthew Grant of InsTech, Paul Brand of Convex, Paolo Cuomo of Gallagher Re, and Thierry Daucourt of AXA.

Check out the three most downloaded episodes:

• The Five Pillars of Data Analytics Strategy in Insurance | Craig Knightly, Inigo
• 20 Years as CEO of Hiscox: Personal Reflections and the Evolution of PPL | Bronek Masojada
• Implementing ESG in the Insurance and Underwriting Space | Simon Tighe, Chaucer, and Paul McCarney, Moody's