PLUS Podcast

Join Matt Simpson and Dan Auslander for their second episode of "Deal with Me," a series of podcasts designed to provide insights—both personally and professionally—into the people that lead the Transaction Insurance industry, and increase the understanding of the Transaction Insurance marketplace, products, and trends. Their guest for this episode is Will Hemsley. 

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

The professional liability insurance industry is full of accomplished emerging and senior leaders.  Join PLUS CEO Robbie Thompson as he chats with these PL thought-leaders about business line trends, market conditions and what it takes to be successful in the industry.  If you’re looking to learn from some of the industry’s greatest, take a listen to this PLUS podcast.

David A. Bell is the President & CEO of ALPS Corporation and ALPS Property & Casualty Insurance Company.  David joined ALPS in 2012. He was previously with Allied World Assurance Company (NYSE: AWH), a publicly traded global (re)insurance company. David was a founding executive and served as the Chief Operating Officer. 

After graduating from the University of Montana in 1996 with a degree in finance he began his career with The Chubb Corporation. David co-founded and serves on the board of Grateful Nation Montana, a first-of-its-kind in the nation organization that provides tutoring, mentoring and a college education for the children of Montana soldiers killed while on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has appeared on NBC Nightly News, Fox & Friends and numerous other television and radio outlets talking about the need to make funding educations for the children of our fallen soldiers a national priority. David served as President of PLUS (Professional Liability Underwriting Society), the largest insurance industry association focused on education.

He currently serves on the board of the Bank of Montana, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and is Board Chair of The Maureen & Mike Mansfield Center, which promotes better understanding of Asia and of U.S. relations with Asia. He has presented to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), focusing on expropriation and kidnap/ransom in Asia and the Middle East, and he has spoken and written extensively on the subject of insurance risk transfer. In 2010 David authored a book titled The Best Quotes on Business, Leadership & Life.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

The professional liability insurance industry is full of accomplished emerging and senior leaders.  Join PLUS CEO Robbie Thompson as he chats with these PL thought-leaders about business line trends, market conditions and what it takes to be successful in the industry.  If you’re looking to learn from some of the industry’s greatest, take a listen to this PLUS podcast.

Larry is the founder of Andros Risk Services, an insurance consulting firm. He has been the president of two MGAs, has held senior roles at AIG, HCC, Marsh and ACE, and has been an insurance attorney at law firms in New York and Boston. His books, “Claims Made and Reported – A Journey Through D&O, E&O and Other Professional Lines of Insurance,” “D&O 101: Understanding Directors and Officers Liability Insurance – A Holistic Approach” and “Professional Lines Insurance: An Oral History,” have been widely praised by, among others, Warren Buffett. Larry is a cum laude graduate of Villanova University and Boston College Law School.   

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

The professional liability insurance industry is full of accomplished emerging and senior leaders.  Join PLUS CEO Robbie Thompson as he chats with these PL thought-leaders about business line trends, market conditions and what it takes to be successful in the industry.  If you’re looking to learn from some of the industry’s greatest, take a listen to this PLUS podcast.

Mercedes Colwin, a highly successful trial attorney, is the founding partner of Gordon & Rees’ New York City Office.  She handles a wide variety of litigation, including employment law, commercial litigation, class actions, products liability, professional liability, wage and hour class actions, civil rights violations and criminal law.

Ms. Colwin has defended thousands of cases throughout the country to a favorable result and won over ninety percent of her numerous trials and arbitrations.  She regularly litigates business disputes and defends corporations and executives of Fortune 500 companies accused of wrongdoing, including claims of sexual misconduct. 

Prior to private practice, Ms. Colwin served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Division of Human Rights.  During these nine years of service, while a partner at a major regional New York law firm, she presided over three thousand cases brought under federal and state discrimination laws.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

The professional liability insurance industry is full of accomplished emerging and senior leaders.  Join PLUS CEO Robbie Thompson as he chats with these PL thought-leaders about business line trends, market conditions and what it takes to be successful in the industry.  If you’re looking to learn from some of the industry’s greatest, take a listen to this PLUS podcast.

Manny Cho leads the Executive Lines Team for Risk Placement Services (RPS).   In his 30+ years in the industry, Manny has held various roles with Carriers (Axis, C.N.A, Chubb, AIG), Retailers and Wholesalers (Carpenter Moore / Nasdaq Insurance, RPS). Manny has been active in the Cyber Security space since 1999 and has worked with many clients to help develop customized insurance solutions to meet their growing needs.   Manny lives in the Bay Area with his wife, two teenage children and a 9 month old Bernedoodle puppy.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

 Today, we begin a series of podcasts designed to provide insights—both personally and professionally—into the people that lead the Transaction Insurance industry, and increase the understanding of the Transaction Insurance marketplace, products, and trends. 

Daniel Auslander and Matthew Simpson talk with Jeff Cowhey in this first episode.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

The professional liability insurance industry is full of accomplished emerging and senior leaders.  Join PLUS CEO Robbie Thompson as he chats with these PL thought-leaders about business line trends, market conditions and what it takes to be successful in the industry.  If you’re looking to learn from some of the industry’s greatest, take a listen to this PLUS podcast.
  

John Benedetto

John is currently the President of Berkley Professional Liability. He joined the WR Berkley organization in October 2008 after a 16 year career at AIG. His most recent position at AIG was President of the National Accounts Division (publicly traded companies with revenues over $500mm) of AIG Executive Liability.  In addition to this day-to-day responsibility he had oversight responsibility for the Corporate Accounts Division (publicly traded companies with revenues below $500mm) John held a succession of underwriting and management positions throughout his career at AIG.  He has underwritten and managed various management liability products including but not limited to: public company D&O, private company D&O, GPL, Employment Practices and Fiduciary Liability.  

Prior to his employment at AIG, John worked within the Private Client Group of Merrill Lynch. John graduated from Boston University with a BSBA in Finance and International Management in 1989.

John is currently a Trustee of PLUS and a board member of The Bridge.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

Insurance companies face the dual challenge of addressing escalating climate change risks and shifting industry regulations. See why climate insurance risk is intensifying, examine the insurance industry’s response to climate change, and explore items insurers should consider to address and achieve greater resilience by listening to the excellent speakers—David Nicholson, Lindsay Keenan, Chris Thomas, and Zina Saeed—in this podcast.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

Wondering how the changes in Washington may shape D&O risk landscape?  Our expert panelists (Kevin LaCroix of RT ProExec, Rob Yellen of Willis Towers Watson and John Fielding of Chubb—a Washington insider—this panel’s ringer!) share their thoughts and insights into how the early days of the new Biden administration and a new balance of power in Washington could impact D&O exposures and loss.  For this first of our three-part series, we looked at early day developments—appointments or prospective appointments, early priorities and executive action, the climate and potential for rulemaking and legislative initiatives. For anyone tracking D&O risk trends in 2021, this is a can’t miss podcast.

Please note:  Our next session is planned for 100 or so days in.

For the best experience, it is recommended you update the “Auto-lock” setting on your mobile device to “Never” so that the podcast doesn’t pause while you are listening. 

For the third and final episode of their conversation, Brenda Shelly again joins Adeola Adele and Deidre Wright for the end of their discussion on retaining Black talent and accountability in the insurance industry. They conclude their conversation on affecting and sustaining change, and delve into what accountability really means and how it can and should impact the industry.