EDITOR’S LETTER
It’s good to be back—insuring what matters most
“The APCIA campaign is designed to capture what the industry does best.”
As David Sampson, chief executive of the American Property Casualty Association, says in his interview inside this issue of APCIA Today: “it is good to be back”.
As with so many other conferences, APCIA was held in a virtual form only last year. This year, its organisers took the decision to plough ahead with a physical event. They have been vindicated. Despite overseas visitors from most countries including the UK still being unable to enter the US, registrations will be more than 60 percent of 2019 levels—exceeding expectations.
COVID-19 passports and other safety measures aside, the event should feel relatively normal. Everyone this publication has spoken to is certainly keen to embrace face-to-face meetings again. This is, after all, an industry built on trust and relationships. Technology can never truly replace that.
The organisers have succeeded in attracting a stellar line-up of speakers and panellists. Fox news anchor Dana Perino will MC much of the conference—and she will have a big job on her hands.
Just some of the keynote speakers to look out for include Craig Fugate, former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the president of the American Action Forum, who will discuss resilience to climate change. Kevin Mandia, the chief executive officer of Mandiant, will discuss the cyber threat to the industry.
A panel discussion examining claims and the industry’s reputation will be well worth watching, featuring Robert DiMuccio, chairman, Amica Mutual Group; Marty Ellingsworth, executive managing director, P&C insurance intelligence group, JD Power; and Rich Thau, president, Engagious.
The usual must-attend session on reinsurance will also present a line-up of big-name speakers including Joe Monaghan, global growth leader, Aon Reinsurance Solutions, and CEO, Aon Public Sector Partnership, Aon; Chirag Shah, executive vice president, head of casualty, Willis Re; Alex van Dijk, president–US branches, Guy Carpenter; and Marcus Winter, president and CEO, reinsurance division, Munich Re US.
The event as a whole will have the theme “Insuring what matters most”—and APCIA will unveil a publicity campaign of the same name. This will be welcomed by members. The industry continued to perform admirably in the face of diversity. It paid out $477 billion in claims in 2020. Yet it remains often misunderstood and under threat from all sides.
The APCIA campaign is designed to capture what the industry does best: deliver products that are vital for protecting individuals, families and businesses—and everything they care about. The campaign will highlight the industry’s record of delivering on promises to policyholders and its overall contribution to the economy and its resilience.
Seeing that message hit home will be great news for the industry and everyone who works in it.
Wyn Jenkins is the managing editor of Intelligent Insurer
Image: shutterstock.com / Love Solutions
