Cyber Insurance Leaders

• Ep. 57 – Building a Resilient Cyber MGA Through Discipline and Consistency – with Greg Markell

  When the market softened, Ridge didn’t follow the crowd. Here’s how discipline became their competitive edge. In this episode, host Anthony Hess sits down with Greg Markell, President & CEO at Ridge Canada Cyber Solutions Inc., for a candid conversation on what it takes to build a sustainable cyber MGA.Greg shares how Ridge has resisted the pull of chasing market share during soft cycles—maintaining its underwriting standards since 2020—and why he believes cyber risk transfer must be earned, not assumed. He unpacks Ridge’s strategy of building proprietary underwriting tools in-house, explains why AI is an efficiency enhancer (not a replacement for people), and introduces the company’s new “risk marketplace,” which helps brokers turn declines into actionable paths to coverage. You’ll learn:1. Why consistent underwriting is Ridge’s strategy for long-term profitability2. Why cyber coverage should depend on client maturity, not market capacity3. How Ridge balances internal tech and AI with human-led underwriting4. What Ridge’s “risk marketplace” offers when clients aren’t ready for coverage5. Why trusted vendor partnerships are core to a strong claims experience___________Get in touch with Greg Markell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmarkell/___________About the host Anthony Hess:Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: [email protected].___________Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us!

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• Ep. 56 – BI, Data, and Dollars: What Today’s Claims Trends Reveal About Cyber Risk – with John Spiehs

  What if the biggest threat to your cyber claims portfolio isn’t ransomware—but a spreadsheet buried in someone’s inbox?In this episode, host Anthony Hess chats with John Spiehs, Head of Claims at Converge, about what’s shifting in the cyber claims space—and what insurance professionals should have on their radar.John breaks down how Converge is leading efforts to simplify Business Interruption (BI) claims with a cleaner, more intuitive, top-down approach. He also digs into the growing exposure around data privacy, where even small incidents can trigger costly class actions. Finally, he explains what’s getting lost as the market softens, why vendor relationships matter more than price tags, and the kind of talent today’s claims teams really need.You'll learn:1. Why BI claims are evolving, and how Converge is simplifying the process2. Why data privacy and class actions are emerging as cyber’s new frontier3. Why soft market dynamics threaten underwriting discipline4. How poor email habits can explode breach costs overnight5. What defines a strong vendor partnership, beyond cut-rate solutions___________Get in touch with John Spiehs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-s-b981337/___________About the host Anthony Hess:Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: [email protected].___________Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us! 

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• Ep. 55 - The Next Evolution of Cyber Insurance: Active Protection and Real-Time Risk Mitigation - with Daniel Woods

  Cyber insurers can’t just assess risk—they need to actively protect businesses from evolving threats.In this episode, host Anthony Hess welcomes Daniel Woods, Principal Security Researcher at Coalition, to explore how cyber insurers can move beyond risk transfer and take an active role in cybersecurity. Daniel explains how Coalition’s mission-driven approach sets it apart, and why active insurance has an edge in an era of escalating threats.You'll learn:1. Why cyber insurers must go beyond risk assessment and actively protect policyholders2. How web privacy litigation from the plaintiffs’ bar mirrors cybercriminal tactics3. The biggest blind spots in systemic cyber risk, and why a privacy casualty catastrophe is worth thinking about4. How insurers can build real-time risk mitigation into their coverage models5. The future of cyber insurance: Where the industry is headed and how insurers can stay ahead___________Get in touch with Daniel Woods on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-woods-82555199/___________About the host Anthony Hess:Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: [email protected].___________Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us! 

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• Ep. 54 - Privacy, Ransomware, and Risk: 2025 Cyber Insurance Trends - with David Anderson

  Can your cyber insurance policy really deliver when it counts? Find out what separates a winning policy from a risky gamble.In this episode, host Anthony Hess welcomes David Anderson, Vice President of Cyber at Woodruff Sawyer, to explore the evolving cyber insurance landscape. David dives into the current trends shaping the market, sharing insights into what 2025 holds for privacy underwriting, ransomware risks, and premium stabilization. He reveals the common missteps that leave organizations vulnerable and offers actionable strategies to ensure your cyber insurance policy performs effectively in the event of a claim.You'll learn:1. Why privacy underwriting is the focal point of 2025 renewals2. How policy misalignment can lead to disastrous claims outcomes3. The must-have policy elements for manufacturing and tech firms4. Strategies to improve collaboration between CISOs and financial buyers5. Why underwriter scrutiny is shifting from quantity to efficacy of tools___________Get in touch with David Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dava988/___________About the host Anthony Hess:Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: [email protected].___________Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us! 

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• Ep. 53 - Proactive Risk Management: A Win-Win-Win for Insurers, Brokers, and Clients - with Sidd Gavirneni

  How can insurers, brokers, and clients all win through proactive risk management? Discover the strategies reshaping the cyber insurance ecosystem.In this episode, host Anthony Hess sits down with Sidd Gavirneni, Global Product Owner, Digital Risk Management at HSB. With a background spanning cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and InsurTech innovation, Sidd shares his insights into transforming the cyber insurance landscape. He highlights how pre-breach services benefit insurers, brokers, and clients. This episode also explores personal cyber insurance, AI’s dual role in cybersecurity, and the value of partnerships in the cyber insurance ecosystem.You'll learn:1. Why pre-breach solutions are key to reducing claims and enhancing client trust2. How the insurance industry can unlock the potential of personal cyber coverage3. The challenges of data utilization in underwriting and ways to overcome them4. The role of AI as both a cybersecurity asset and a growing threat5. How closer collaboration between insurers and cybersecurity vendors drives innovation___________Get in touch with Sidd Gavirneni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddgavirneni/___________About the host Anthony Hess:Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: [email protected].___________Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us! 

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