An executive leader with significant experience working in UKGI Property and Casualty claims and Risk Management. With expertise and a real focus on the delivery of unsurpassed customer outcomes and the highest level of technical standards whilst utilising modern technologies and methodologies.

Having worked for several leading insurers over the years I am now providing specialist and personal support that delivers real solutions helping drive long term benefits for Customers, Underwriters, and all parties involved in the claims management chain.

As well as sitting on the handl board as a Chief Commercial Officer, Chris currently looks after the insurer services Brands within the handl portfolio. He has worked in the insurance industry for many years across a series of C suite and senior roles most notably in the motor claims supply chain. He is a growth specialist and has a track record of innovation and delivery.

During over 35 years with Zurich, Scott has handled claims across all lines of business and distribution channels and, in a previous role, headed up the Chief Executive’s Complaints Team, providing technical decisions across Claims and Underwriting. For the last 18 years, Scott has been responsible for managing and developing the claims fraud proposition across the General Business in the UK. With a team over 60 and having a track record of implementing cutting edge tools and technology, the Claims Investigation Unit have achieved notable success and industry recognition. He chairs Zurich’s Global Fraud Network and is a Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau.

James is the deputy news editor at Insurance Times and joined the publication after several years working as a reporter.

His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.

Now working within the insurance sector, James has a particular focus on motor, M&A activity and financial reporting.

Outside of work, James supports Arsenal, enjoys watching Formula 1, talks about the key news going on in the motorsport for his video blog and unsurprisingly is a keen go-karter.

During his 33 year career in the insurance industry, Steve has held senior claims positions within a range of disciplines, including Operational Management, Audit, Technical Claims Management and Executive Management, across both Lloyds Syndicates and Composite Insurers.

Since 2007, Steve has held the position of Group Head of Claims for the Markerstudy Group where he has overall responsibility for all of the group’s claims activities, with a particular interest in the strategic development of the claims function and simplification of the claims solutions delivered to the market.

Steve is an advocate of partnering cutting edge technology with skilled personnel to achieve market leading claims solutions, that not only improve the customer experience, but also reduce indemnity spend.

Stuart brings more than two decades of invaluable experience in the insurance industry, coupled with a passion for technology and a proven track record in overcoming technical hurdles while nurturing strategic alliances. Prior to his tenure at RDT, Stuart dedicated eight years to Markerstudy Group and a decade to Hastings, where he garnered extensive insights into the sector. With his comprehensive expertise in both technology and insurance, Stuart is ideally equipped to effectively assist Insurance Times in identifying the 2024 winners.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Stuart volunteers as a qualified England Boxing coach at his local boxing gym, reflecting his commitment to giving back to the community in his spare time.

Chris has worked in insurance for the past 15 years for number of leading insurer. He has held a variety of posts such as Rehabilitation, Vendor Management and Compliance.

In his current role he has responsibility for managing change and continuous improvement, data and insights and quality assurance across Hiscox UK Claims function. He originally trained as a physiotherapist and like many of us fell into insurance and has never looked back.

After working at the most senior levels in mainstream adjusting for 20 years, Bev founded FitzGerald Consulting Ltd in 2001.  The firm is a niche consulting practise focusing on high-end adjusting and Claims-related work.  Since inception, we have continuously worked on CAT events throughout the world, starting with 9/11 in New York and most recently on the 2020 Riots in Chile; Hurricane ‘Dorian’ in The Bahamas; and Covid in the UK.  The firm also handles other complex adjusting work, audits/reviews and expert witness cases from its businesses based in the UK, Spain, Chile and The Bahamas.

Bev personally specialises in Property Damage and Business Interruption losses.  He is a past-President of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters; past-Chairman of the CII’s Society of Fellows; a Freeman of the City of London; and a Member of the Worshipful Company of Insurers.  Socially, he spends time with his two juke-boxes, music collection, garden, old cars and Fulham FC.

With a career of over 25 years in insurance, Sue has a breadth of insurance knowledge, predominately focused within operational and personal lines claims. She is passionate about optimising both the customer and user experience.   

Sue’s key responsibilities are client relationship and engagement, together with marketing, brand and culture.    

Sue worked in the information technology and services industry for 12 years and is skilled in service delivery and implementation, along with customer and employee engagement.   

Her hobbies are, walking the dog, swimming and spending time as a family. 

Dave has been in the insurance industry more than 30 years and has experience in both commercial and personal lines insurance plus, worked for both insurers and brokers.     

He is currently the Managing Director of Granite Underwriting, responsible for a specialist motor and small commercial portfolio.       

Prior to joining Granite Underwriting, Dave managed QBE’s commercial SME business, where he successfully transformed traditional trading of property, casualty, motor and specialist lines to a sophisticated full-cycle e-trade operation across multiple distribution platforms.      

Dave is a self-motivated, enthusiastic leader with strong communication and business skills and an open-minded inclusive management style. His approach and experience, coupled with his strength of character, are key to him driving business forward for profitable growth.     

Outside of insurance Dave is a keen cyclist and mountain biker. 

Laura Horrocks started her career in insurance investigation in 2009, originally specialising in motor investigations, but more recently across a broad range of insurance lines, including commercial and domestic. In April this year Laura joins the team at Shift Technology as a Customer Success Manager, using AI to maximise the potential fraud detection rates and improve overall customer experience.

My journey in insurance has led me to proudly don the patches of the London Market and SME brokers.

Beyond the world of insurance, I've ventured into creative pursuits that promote inclusivity and representation. I've collaborated with Detester Magazine to co-author a manuscript that champions inclusivity. Together, we also crafted an animated adaptation of "The Brown Skin She Wore Was a Weapon," which resonated with an audience of over 1,300 viewers. This project highlights the potential of multimedia storytelling to connect with diverse audiences.

My written work has found a home in publications such as Orange Magazine, Peahce Project, and others.

Yiannis is deputy editor at Insurance Times and the winner of the Most Promising Newcomer prize at the Biba Journalist & Media Awards 2023 for his work covering the big stories within the insurance industry.

With a particular focus on regulation, geopolitical and systemic risks and conflict, he has covered the insurance implications of the Ukraine war, riots in France and the commissions scandal for multioccupancy buildings insurance.

He graduated in 2017 with a degree in history from the University of Exeter and entered the world of trade journalism at a dental magazine. Before moving into the world of insurance in 2022, he also worked as senior reporter at a magazine for opticians.

Outside of work, Yiannis is an obsessive Arsenal fan and enjoys hiking, tucking into a tome and doing nothing at all.

Having developed customer propositions at insurance giants Aviva and AXA, Nyasha Kuwana more recently applied her skills as a consultant, working with multiple multinational incumbent and insurtechs. Nyasha joined FloodFlash as Head of Product in 2019 before progressing to Commercial Director.  There, she was architect of the award-winning FloodFlash claims experience, one that has been tested regularly in recent years. During storms in 2022 they paid a claim in full in just 3 hours and 50 minutes setting a new catastrophe claim record in the process.

Kellie is Head of Intelligence & Insight at Crawford Legal Services. She is an experienced litigator with 27-year background of negligence claims including EL/PL and motor claims. For the last 22 of those years Kellie has specialised in counter fraud and has expanded her knowledge base to include property claims and speciality risk. Kellie’s experience in fraud claims handling and litigation covers everything from cradle to grave including recoveries and contempt of court proceedings.     

When not foiling would be fraudsters, Kellie spends time with her family including 2 cats and a dog. In 2020, Kellie became an unwitting TikTok star thanks to one of her cats and her quick acting daughter! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSqLElRxWvM 

Fleur is an experienced Fraud and Financial Crime professional with over 20 years’ experience across the insurance and financial services industry, and has implemented industry first, innovative award-winning strategies.    

Fleur has extensive experience in designing and implementing fraud and financial crime frameworks across multiple products and delivery channels. Prior to joining Covea, Fleur has managed financial crime digital transformation programmes across the financial services industry and previously led the way in the PCW sector with the fight against fraud by implementing award winning, industry first, point of quote fraud controls and behavioural insight to the insurance comparison market.   Fleur strives hard to encourage collaboration across the industry and break down the silos that have historically existed. 

Eddie has been an independent claims and supply chain development consultant for 25 years. Working on 3 different continents and for many of the top UK insurers and vendors, Eddie has a national reputation for innovation and finding new solutions to suit changing and challenging situations. A prolific writer and commentator on all things claims related Eddie is a regular speaker and facilitator of insurance events.  

Often asked to advise his clients on new claims technology solutions Eddie also brings significant experience of the worlds of insurtech, customer experience design, and supply chain integration. Renowned for his ‘straight talking’ he has a passion for excellence and an intolerance of the ordinary!  

Elaine leads a specialist claims and insurance consultancy practice specialising in supporting insurance organisations in the Lloyd’s and London insurance market.

Elaine is ACII qualified and a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and has spent the majority of her career managing insurance claims, personal and professional lines, commercial and speciality. direct and reinsurance. Her company, Belvedere Mead champions excellent claims service whilst also providing support for peripheral functions such as financial reconciliations, and reinsurance recoveries.

Elaine is a Liveryman of the Worshipful of Insurers and a past examiner of the CII.

A Claims professional with over 32 years’ experience, Benedict started his career as a trainee loss adjuster in Liverpool, handling a mix of household, commercial and liability claims. In 2003, he joined FM Global, a mutual insurance company specialising in industrial and complex global property risks.

Work has taken Benedict across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. He also spent four years in the US. Roles have included loss adjuster, account adjuster, claims trainer, manager, mentor and coach. In his current role, he is a member of FM’s Claims Senior Leadership team, responsible for claims delivery across multiple regions.

He is passionate about enhancing client resilience through innovative claims solutions that empower businesses to make informed choices. Along the way he has attained Chartered Loss Adjuster and Chartered Insurer designations and spent a year as president of a local insurance institute.

Steve is the Commercial Director at AX Automotive, formerly Accident Exchange Ltd and is responsible for developing their vehicle rental, digital and end to end claims management offering in the UK motor insurer and broker markets.     

Prior to joining AX, Steve has worked at a senior level across the motor insurer supply chain and claims community, for companies such as Endsleigh, AI Claims, Antony Hodari and Coplus.  ‘Working for 30 years in the UK insurance claims and supplier space, with both insurers and brokers, has given me a unique insight into every aspect and angle of a customer’s motor claim. This is another exciting opportunity for me to learn about the diverse and innovative customer focussed approaches within our market this year’. 

Mary joined the Proximo Group 13 years ago and is now responsible for The People who experience Proximo covering employees across the group as well as end-customers.      

Mary has a wealth of knowledge covering People Engagement, Learning and Development and Customer Experience, all of which have a direct impact on the holistic goals, objectives and ambitions for Proximo’s growth and success.      

Mary is a recognised industry thought leader, regularly contributes to publications and speaks at major events. Mary loves spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors and keeping fit.  

Ami is Head of Personal Injury and Fraud at Tesco Insurance and is responsible for managing and developing the Underwriting and Claims fraud propositions.    

Ami was appointed Chair of IFIG in December 2021 having joined the board in 2017. She has over twenty years of experience in both claims and underwriting specialising in counter fraud and is passionate about collaboration in the counter fraud community and a member of the General Insurance Fraud Committee. 

Winner of Biba’s Best thought leadership Award 2023, and highly commended in this year’s WTW awards as Insurance and risk technology journalist of the year.

Interested in all things insurance technology and insurtech.

Writer of the monthly TechTalk section of the magazine and backchat. When not writing can be found doing yoga, at some kind of dance workshop, singing, globetrotting, or baking – not in any specific order.

Katie Scott joined Insurance Times in October 2019 as the publication’s associate editor. She was promoted to editor in February 2021 and has worked passionately to build and promote the title for its readership in the UK general insurance market.

Katie has performed a range of writing roles since 2012, more specifically undertaking trade journalism roles from 2014 across professional industries such as fitness and human resources.

Since joining Insurance Times, Katie has successfully obtained a number of industry accolades. During her tenure so far, she has taken home prizes such as Best Trade Award and Publication of the Year from Biba’s annual Journalist and Media Awards, been annually shortlisted in the General Insurance Journalist of the Year (B2B) category at Headlinemoney’s yearly awards event, as well as received numerous highly commended prizes in the Insurance and Risk Features Journalist of the Year category at WTW’s annual Media Awards.

Outside of work, Katie is an avid badminton player, runner and exercise lover – when she can find the time around caring for her baby son Charlie. She also enjoys reading, cross stitch, musicals, visiting fancy restaurants and an evening G&T.

Garry has over 35 years insurance experience specialising in claims. He built and led the Sterling Insurance Commercial and High Net Worth claims team and, post-merger, successfully integrated the combined Covea and Sterling claims teams.    

In early 2020, Garry joined a new commercial lines Insurtech focused on disrupting the traditional insurance market, helping them to design a digital and touchless claims process. He then joined Lockton in October 2020 as Head of Claims – Senior Vice President within their Global Real Estate and Construction (GREAC) division.    

Garry has always enjoyed being responsible for market leading and innovative claims teams securing an enviable reputation for first class customer service and integrity.    

The Head of Claims role within GREAC has allowed him to get even closer to clients and return, once again, to working for a privately owned and entrepreneurial business focused on delivering exceptional client service. 

Victoria is Head of Claims Operations for Howden Corporate and Commercial UK driving change and development of the claims department. Victoria has been in the industry for over 15 years having begun as a Claims Handler and has worked in Insurer, MGA and Broker environments. Her key goal is ensuring high standards of claims service internally and externally through relationships, processes, and innovation. She has recently completed her MBA in leadership practice and is enjoying using the skills learnt to further these standards. Alongside the day job Victoria is co-chair of the Howden Gender Balance group and actively supports the development of Women in Leadership.

Shirley has over20 years’ experience in financial services across of range of areas and proudly leads the great team at Minster Law. As Chief Executive Officer, she works across the business to ensure that Minster delivers their strategy and financial plan, delivering the highest levels of service to customers and partners.

Shirley is a champion of innovation and committed to leading the team at Minster to develop new product and service propositions that provide excellent customer outcomes. She enjoys working with talented, passionate people who are keen to radically evolve how the industry delivers legal services.