2016

Breakfast & Registration

Welcoming Remarks by 2016 Conference Co-Chairs

• Cris Baez-Safa, Head of European Financial & Specialty Markets, QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited
• Guillaume Deschamps, Director, Head of FINEX France, Gras Savoye, a Willis Towers Watson Company

Keynote Address

Richard Pryce, has a 30-year pedigree in the London and European insurance marketplace and is QBE’s CEO of European Operations. He will provide the keynote address at Advisen’s full day conference.

Pryce will discuss the current state of the P&C insurance markets, sharing his perspective on their evolution and addressing some of the challenges for insurers and buyers in today’s landscape. Hear his views on the insurance market cycle and how he envisages the market’s evolution in the coming months and years.

The Dynamics of a Changing Market: Impact on Coverage and Claims

This session will consider the main market dynamics at play in Europe, and how they are shaping coverage and the claims process in executive risk insurance. What is changing and why? This session will explain the insurance market cycle and where the insurance sector is in that cycle today. Brokers have increasing influence on the expansion of cover and the distribution of risks. What influence does this have on the types of cover purchased and the placement of international policies? Using D&O claims examples as case studies, panelists will look at the evolution of claims notification, negotiation and payment periods – the claims process.

• Douglas W. Greene, Partner, Lane Powell PC (Moderator)
• Francis Kean, Executive Director, Willis Towers Watson
• Michael Rieger-Goroncy, Head of Global Corporate Marsh FINPRO, Marsh
• Mark Smith, Portfolio Manager – Commercial Financial Lines, QBE European Operations

Morning Break

The Buying and Underwriting Process

An interview looking at the dynamics between the client, broker and underwriter in the insurance buying chain, the underwriting process and ‘what makes a good risk’.

Our interviewees will discuss topics such as the effect of technology on placing SME risks and how data and information increasingly play a part in risk assessment.

• Guillaume Deschamps, Director, Head of FINEX France, Gras Savoye, a Willis Towers Watson Company
• Suresh Ellawala, D&O Line Underwriter, Hiscox

Crime: Are Policies Relevant for Today’s Exposures?

Crime exposures are changing, fast. How do you identify fraudsters and how are they pursued? This session will look at the anonymous nature of crime in the electronic world and address the insurance market response. Panelists will also discuss the boundary between crime policies and cyber insurance.

• Michael Lea, Producer, Financial Risks, Lockton Companies LLP (Moderator)
• Kirstin Gill, Senior Underwriter, Liberty Specialty Markets
• Jamie Mackenzie, Director, Equijust
• Ken Munro, Partner, Pen Test Partners LLP

Conference Luncheon

Investigations: Policy Response

This session is aimed at educating risk managers on the reality of the ever-increasing threat of regulatory investigations. How are developments like the Yates Memo in the US affecting corporate behavior? This session will explain how investigations play out in reality, how to access defense under a policy and how the policy responds.

• Eleni Petros, SVP, Commercial Crime Practice Leader and Senior Management Liability Specialist, Marsh (Moderator)
• Judy Krieg, Financial Crime, Compliance and Corporate Governance Partner, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP
• Peter Bibby, Partner, Brown Rudnick LLP
• Mary O’Connor, CEO of Financial Lines, Willis Towers Watson

Extortion – A Growing Executive Risk

Our world has opened up: International expansion is a well-trodden expansion path for many companies, social media pervades all aspects of our lives and more information is available on the internet. These all incur risks for corporate executives and their families beyond the normal corporate exposures. Directors and their families are increasingly at risk of cyber extortion and kidnap threats, seen by perpetrators as a way to easy money. How would your company respond to a real event involving your executive management? What insurance cover is available to respond to these threats?

• Harry Linnell, Crisis Management Insurance Broker, RKH Specialty
• Nick Powis, Head of Operations, red24

Afternoon Break

The Activist Investor and Litigation Funding

Investors are becoming more engaged with their European boards, especially as M&A activity picks up again after the Eurozone crisis. Who are the activist investors? Why are they becoming more active and how are they driving claims? This session will also discuss the new phenomenon of Litigation Funding and ask how this is affecting investor’s behaviour.

• Edouard Fremault, Partner, Deminor Recovery Services
• Rocco Pirozzolo, Director of Litigation Funding, Harbour Litigation Funding

The Broader Impact of Data Breach: The Executive Risks

Focusing on the third-party exposures associated with cyber attacks, this session will look at the implications of a cyber attack on your business and your partners in the supply chain, including contractual disputes. Panelists will also address the sweeping new regulation regarding data breach disclosure. How might GDPR affect disclosure costs for companies? What impact might data sharing agreements have on your business? This session will discuss the business implications and also address how the insurance market is responding.

• Cris Baez-Safa, Head of European Financial & Specialty Markets, QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited (Moderator)
• Marcus Breese, Cyber & Professions Line Underwriter, Hiscox London Market
• Philip Tansley, Legal Director, RPC
• Jens Waldner, Senior Associate, Corporate Department, Paul Hastings LLP

Closing Remarks & Reception