Insider on Air

AXIS Global Head of Financial Lines John Van Decker says rate stabilization across D&O and related lines signals a more sustainable market in 2026. He notes expansion opportunities in the middle market and Canada, while pointing to AI‑related exposures, cybersecurity risks and global economic volatility as key factors shaping underwriting strategies in the year ahead.

Markel International’s Head of Portfolio Management, Phil Gadsden, says the insurer is expanding its talent search beyond traditional underwriting and actuarial roles to include data scientists, engineers and developers. Gadsden explains how blending technical expertise with creative problem‑solving improves portfolio insights, supports more strategic underwriting and helps Markel stay competitive as data and technology reshape insurance decision‑making.

Are data centres really the biggest growth opportunity the insurance industry has ever seen?

March 18 2026, 11:30 ET/15:30 GMT

Apr 08 2026, 10:30 ET/15:30 GMT

Have you ever wondered what goes into launching a new syndicate at Lloyd's?

What is the strategic thinking behind The Fidelis Partnership’s unique business model?

What were the defining moments that shaped the insurance market in 2025?

The data available can “help to inform” a carrier’s strategy in the open market.

How do you harmonise distribution strategies in a rapidly evolving marketplace?

Michael McKenna, Head of North America Specialty Insurance, AXIS, outlines the key trends shaping the industry as 2025 comes to a close and underscores that talent acquisition and rapid technology integration will be critical for specialty insurance in 2026.

At the WSIA conference in San Diego, industry leaders unpack how litigation funding, nuclear verdicts, and cautious limit deployment are reshaping the excess casualty landscape.