Advertise on podcast: The Insurance Coffee House with Nick Hoadley

On this episode of the Insurance Coffee House Boardroom Series, Nick Hoadley is joined by David Herzog, former CFO of American International Group (AIG) and one of the most experienced finance and governance leaders in global insurance. David served as CFO of AIG from 2008 to 2016, stepping into the role in the immediate aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis and helping lead the company through one of the most complex turnarounds in modern financial services. In this conversation, David reflects on the years leading up to the CFO appointment, including rebuilding AIG’s financial infrastructure as Group Controller, and the intensity of navigating markets that rapidly moved from strained, to expensive, to effectively closed. He shares what it was like inside AIG as liquidity evaporated, why coordination with the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury was pivotal, and how the organisation focused on stabilising the business, stopping the “bleeding,” and ultimately repaying government support. The discussion also explores David’s transition from executive leadership into board governance. He talks through early lessons from his first directorship, how he approaches chairing audit and oversight roles, and what aspiring directors should understand about the line between being an overseer and a doer. David also shares why the opportunity to chair Aegon appealed to him, and what he looks for in organisations on a journey of strategic change. Connect with David Herzog on LinkedIn. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of the Insurance Coffee House, Nick Hoadley is joined by Susan Holliday, a global insurance and reinsurance executive and experienced board director, including her recent appointment to the board of Hippo Insurance. Susan shares how the Hippo opportunity came about, why the stage of the business matters for board impact, and what her committee roles involve, including Audit, Risk and Compliance and Compensation. She also reflects on where insurtech sits today, why the ecosystem matters, and why not every technology-led player should become a full-stack carrier. The conversation explores Susan’s career path into insurance, starting in the Lloyd’s market, moving into counterparty credit and global insurer analysis, and later into equity research and senior roles at Swiss Re, including Head of Investor Relations through the Global Financial Crisis. Susan describes what it was like operating in a fast-moving environment, working closely with leadership, and the importance of clear communication when the fine print matters. Nick and Susan then discuss board work in practice: how to build a board portfolio, how to define a clear value proposition, how directors stay current, and how boards should approach emerging risks. Susan shares a practical framework for AI governance, including risk appetite, controls, pilot design, cross-functional execution, and regulator engagement. Connect with Susan Holliday on LinkedIn to follow her work across board governance, risk, and technology-led insurance. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On the Insurance Coffee House podcast, host Nick Hoadley welcomes Suzanne Williams-Charles, CEO of the Bermuda International Long-Term Insurers and Reinsurers (BILTIR), the industry body representing Bermuda’s globally significant life and annuity sector. Speaking from Hamilton, Bermuda, Suzanne shares her journey to leading an association that champions the interests of long-term insurers and reinsurers on the island. She talks about BILTIR’s role in advocacy, education, and community engagement, and how the organisation works closely with government, regulators, and members to ensure Bermuda remains a world-class insurance and reinsurance hub. Suzanne discusses the unique position Bermuda holds in the global risk landscape - particularly in life and annuity reinsurance and the importance of balancing innovation with robust regulatory frameworks. She highlights BILTIR’s initiatives to attract and develop local talent, foster industry collaboration, and address emerging challenges, from changing demographics to evolving solvency requirements. In the Espresso Round, Suzanne shares valuable insights for insurance professionals considering an international career move, and why Bermuda offers a rare combination of professional opportunity, close-knit community, and global impact. Connect with Suzanne Williams-Charles on LinkedIn and learn more about BILTIR. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On the Insurance Coffee House podcast, host Nick Hoadley welcomes Elyse Myrans, CEO & Co-Founder of Tenax ai, a climate-tech startup using computer vision and AI to protect homes and their insurability, from extreme weather. Speaking from Los Angeles, Elyse shares how Tenax ai delivers property-level risk assessments for wildfire, flood and wind in 20–30 minutes via a smartphone or drone, then ingests the imagery through proprietary models to detect hundreds of features (roof class, vegetation proximity, vent mesh, window type and more). She explains why forward-looking, parcel-level data outperforms regional, backward-looking models, and how Tenax ai’s outputs plug directly into carrier underwriting workflows (they provide the features and confidence, insurers keep their own pricing). Elyse also highlights the homeowner experience: tailored mitigation plans with prioritised actions and referrals to local vendors, removing “speed bumps to action” so customers can reduce risk, lower premiums over time, and even move properties back inside the band of insurability. She draws a useful analogy to telematics in auto insurance: dynamic, behavior/feature-based data enabling more accurate pricing and better outcomes for both carriers and policyholders. In the Espresso Round, Elyse discusses building a tech-insurance hybrid team, why empathy and trust are non-negotiables in startup culture, and offers candid advice for insurance leaders considering the shift to insurtech: get comfortable with the unknown, stay nimble, and keep your eye on what matters as conditions change. Connect with Elyse Myrans on LinkedIn and learn more about Tenax ai. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On the Insurance Coffee House podcast, host Nick Hoadley welcomes Samuel Broomer, President of NormanMax Insurance Solutions, a rapidly growing MGA and Lloyd’s syndicate pioneering climate-focused parametric insurance solutions. Speaking from Connecticut, Sam shares his career journey from reinsurance accounting at HSB Group to leadership roles at AIG, FM Global, and W.R. Berkley, before taking on his current role at NormanMax. With experience spanning finance, underwriting, innovation, and strategy, Sam offers a unique, end-to-end perspective on how insurance organisations can evolve to meet today’s climate and technology challenges. He explains how NormanMax provides parametric protection against natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and severe storms, delivering certainty of payment, speed, and liquidity when policyholders need it most. Sam highlights the importance of third-party data or “oracle” verification for triggering payouts, eliminating lengthy loss-adjustment processes and building greater trust between insurers and customers. Sam also discusses why parametric insurance is becoming mainstream: a feature embedded within traditional policies that enhances the customer experience, helps close the protection gap, and restores confidence in the insurance value chain. He shares NormanMax’s vision to make these products simple, accessible, and globally scalable through its Lloyd’s Syndicate 3939 platform, serving clients from North America to the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. In the Espresso Round, Sam talks about building culture within what he calls a “multi-hundred-million-dollar startup,” offering insights on humility, curiosity, and the value of learning across disciplines. He also shares advice for insurance leaders on hiring with intention, building direct partnerships with talent, and staying open-minded to new perspectives in a rapidly changing market. Connect with Samuel Broomer on LinkedIn and learn more about NormanMax Insurance Solutions. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On the Insurance Coffee House podcast, host Nick Hoadley welcomes Nick Wealthall, Founder of Yellow Door, a leadership and commercial growth consultancy helping insurance organisations and their people unlock performance through better communication, decision-making and mindset. Speaking from London, Nick shares his fascinating career journey from wealth management to professional poker, to comedy writing on shows like Have I Got News For You, before founding Yellow Door to coach senior executives across major insurance firms. With a background spanning finance, broadcasting, and entrepreneurship, Nick brings a unique perspective on how professionals can think and act more like business owners, whether they’re brokers, underwriters, or corporate leaders. He explains how lessons from the poker table translate directly to leadership and underwriting: making confident decisions with incomplete information, assessing risk and reward, and maintaining composure under pressure. Drawing parallels between poker, business and insurance, Nick highlights why the most effective leaders are those who embrace uncertainty, make active choices, and refine their process rather than fixating on short-term outcomes. Nick also discusses how brokers and carriers can drive commercial growth and differentiation in increasingly commoditised markets, by deepening client understanding, taking an “outside-in” perspective, and focusing on delivering long-term value rather than transactional wins. He shares practical insights on building trust-based client relationships, fostering entrepreneurial thinking inside large organisations, and leading with intention and self-awareness. In the Espresso Round, Nick reflects on his journey from performer to coach, offering lessons on humility, resilience and curiosity. He encourages insurance professionals to take ownership of their impact, ask “how can I help more?”, and build businesses that grow through genuine human connection. Connect with Nick Wealthall on LinkedIn and learn more about Yellow Door. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of the Insurance Coffee House, Nick Hoadley sits down with Antonia Hold, CHRO at MS Reinsurance who joined in April 2021. Based in Zurich, Antonia leads the company’s global people strategy, with a focus on hiring the right talent, supporting their growth, and creating an environment where people want to stay and do their best work.  She brings a practical, people-centred approach to leadership, fostering collaboration, encouraging learning, and helping teams grow through trust and shared goals.  Antonia works closely with business leaders to ensure HR is aligned with MS Re’s direction and values. Her career spans more than 20 years across four continents, with senior HR roles at Jones Lang LaSalle, Prudential plc, and Zurich Insurance Group. She has led teams and projects across EMEA, Africa, and APAC, gaining broad experience in shaping HR strategies in diverse environments, and holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Bern. Connect with Antonia Hold on LinkedIn to learn more about MS Reinsurance. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of the Insurance Coffee House, Nick Hoadley sits down with Amanda Yoho, President of Proformex, the life insurance and annuity technology platform based in Cleveland, Ohio. Amanda joined Proformex in January 2020 to build the company’s data and analytics capability, before stepping into the President role in November 2024. With a background that spans startups and global corporates, including several years at IBM following an acquisition, she brings deep experience across data science, technology, and problem-solving in complex environments. In this conversation, Amanda shares how Proformex helps agents, advisors, and distributors gain a unified view across their life and annuity books of business. She discusses the long-term challenges of monitoring products that may span 30-50 years, the importance of consumer protection, and why access to accurate, centralised data is critical for preventing unintended lapses. Amanda explains how proactive alerts, data quality checks, and system integrations support advisors in delivering better service, reducing risk, and identifying new engagement opportunities. She also highlights how hiring and interviewing are evolving in the age of AI, why curiosity is essential in a startup environment, and how finding the right culture fit is just as important as technical capability. Connect with Amanda Yoho on LinkedIn to learn more about Proformex. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram. Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

On the podcast this week, we’re delighted to launch our new Bermuda Series by interviewing Katie Partington-Howarth, Chief Capital Officer at Ariel Re Katie talks to Nick Hoadley about: Her career background and joining Ariel Re in 2005The culture and characteristics that make it a great place to work  How she engages in wider aspects of Bermuda lifeThe opportunities Ariel Re provide for high-performers Her advice on how to build a successful career in Bermuda What she’d do differently if starting her time on island again    Connect with Katie on LinkedIn or find out more about Ariel Re The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2024 – All Rights Reserved.

On the podcast this week, we continue our Bermuda series by interviewing Jesse DeCouto and Tonia Morgan at Canopius Re. Chief Underwriting Officer, Jesse and Chief Financial Officer, Tonia talk about: their respective career journeys to joining Canopius Rewhere the business is now and plans for the future the culture and characteristics that make it a great place to work  their passion for mentoring and helping young people turn in to young professionals the international opportunities Canopius Re provides for high-performing talent how local insurance executives can develop a successful career on islandthe advice they’d give to someone considering a move to Bermudawhat they’d do differently if starting their careers over again Connect with Jesse DeCouto and Tonia Morgan on LinkedIn or find out more about career opportunities at Canopius Group. The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2024 – All Rights Reserved.

On the podcast this week, we welcome Andrew Thornton, Head of Advisory at Grant Thornton Bermuda. Andrew shares: an overview of his career journey from trainee accountant with Ernst & Young to joining Grant Thornton 20 years agomoving to Bermuda 2 years ago to run the advisory side of the businessthe outcomes of acquiring and merging with local firm, Arthur Morrishaving the ambition to grow from 20 people and seeking insurance experts to join the teamwhat makes Grant Thornton Bermuda a great place to worktalent development and career progression opportunities within Grant Thornton how he engages within wider aspects of island lifethe tips he’d give to someone moving to Bermudaand what he’d do differently if he had his time again Connect with Andrew Howie on LinkedIn or find out more at Grant Thornton Bermuda The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2024 – All Rights Reserved.

On the podcast this week, we welcome Laura Pepper, Head of Claims at RenaissanceRe Laura talks to Nick Hoadley about:  her career journey from law graduate in to insurance and joining RenaissanceRe 10 years agomoving to Bermuda in 2019 for a one-year secondment and what’s kept her on island business growth and acquiring Validus Re in 2023the characteristics that make RenaissanceRe a great place to work engaging in wider aspects of island life and her involvement with the DEI committeesupporting the development of local Bermudian talent career opportunities for high performers and her advice for taking your insurance career to the next leveland how to make a successful move to Bermuda Connect with Laura Pepper on LinkedIn or find out more about opportunities at RenaissanceRe The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2024 – All Rights Reserved.

On the podcast this week, we welcome Andrew Couper, Chief Actuary at Conduit Re. Andrew talks to Nick Hoadley about:  qualifying as an actuary in 1995 and working in the London Marketjoining Conduit Re in November 2021 and his experience of working in Bermuda and LondonConduit Re’s growth from launching in 2020 to writing $2.6bn of premium by Q2 2024the characteristics and culture that make it a great place to workimpacting the local community and offering green loansopportunities for high performing local insurance professionals who want to progress their careersdoing your research and speaking to those who have their ear to the ground, for anyone considering a move to Bermuda from overseasif he was moving to Bermuda now, what he’d do differently Connect with Andrew Couper on LinkedIn or find out more about Conduit Re The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2024 – All Rights Reserved.

On the podcast this week, we welcome Nick Campbell, Global Head of Credit & CEO Bermuda at SiriusPoint.  Nick talks to Nick Hoadley about:  being Bermudian but starting his career in the UKreturning to Bermuda to be told he was the ‘wrong’ kind of actuary and wouldn’t get a job on island   his journey to becoming Global Head of Credit and Bermuda CEO of SiriusPoint the mix of local and global roles available to high-performing insurance talent how the company’s culture informs every interaction and conversation engaging in the local community in both formal and informal ways taking risk and considering lateral moves for longer-term career progressionmaking sure you’ll enjoy a Bermuda lifestyle, if you’re exploring career opportunities on islandand whether he’d do anything differently if he had his time again    Find out more about SiriusPoint The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2024 – All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of the Insurance Coffee House Podcast, we welcome Miranda Hunter, Head of Investor Relations at Fidelis Insurance Group. Miranda talks to Nick Hoadley about: her background and career journey, from being born and raised in Bermudareturning to Canada for university and joining KPMG moving back to Bermuda after her CPA exams, to join PWC Bermudathe pivotal career advice she was given of ‘being just as mindful of the company and the management team you're joining as of the role and the package you're accepting’taking a step back to get into the right role to match her longer-term career goalstransitioning through varied insurance roles, before joining Fidelis in December 2023the two distinct entities of Fidelis Insurance Group and the Fidelis PartnershipFidelis’s flat structure and the chance employees have to work on diverse projects and explore various aspects of the organizationbeing surrounded by colleagues whose company you genuinely enjoy, who support you, and are invested in your career growth the importance of mentorship and supporting those at the start of their careershow she gives back to the local Bermuda community  the advice she’d give to anyone looking to develop their career on island, and to those considering a move to Bermuda Connect with Miranda Hunter on LinkedIn or find out more about Fidelis Insurance Group The Insurance Coffee House Podcast is brought to you by Insurance Search. We are a global Insurance Executive Search Consultancy, supporting Insurance and Insurtech businesses to attract and retain the very best insurance talent. Find out more about showcasing your employer brand as a guest on the Insurance Coffee House Podcast or sign up to our News and Insights. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram Insurance Executive Search Consultants in USA, London and Bermuda. Copyright Insurance Search 2025 – All Rights Reserved.