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> AIRMIC’S HARSH MARKET REPORT

> #CHANGINGRISK: WHY MODELS CAN’T


COMPETE WITH HUMAN EXPERIENCE
> TIM GRAHAM IS NO LONE WOLF
> THE EVER-RISING EXPOSURE FOR D&OS
> NASA’S DR DAVID GREEN: WE SHOULD
Risk and corporate governance intelligence FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RISK’S FUTURE

EDITION AIRMIC 2022

SINK OR
SWIM >
As the storm rages on around
us, businesses face wave after
crushing wave of threats, from
economic to geopolitical to
logistical. How do you build the
resilience needed to stay afloat

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#ChangingRisk
The problem with

AIRMIC 2022
quant >P8

ISSUE

Contents
www.strategic-risk-global.com

EDITOR
Helen Yates
LEADER >P3
ESG? TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Daniel Dunkley
It won t be easy to monitor your clients
Sara Benwell sustainability journeys and your own, but nobody
Selwyn Parker wants the activists nor the regulators at their door.
PUBLISHER
Dan King
ANALYSIS >P4
HEAD OF EVENTS
Debbie Kidman > Harsh Market Report 2022: FUTURE OF BUSINESS >P18
Time for an industry level up FLOOD THROUGH A NEW LENS
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Floods dominated the natural perils in 2022. Can
Tim Potter
space radars give us the insight needed to get
HEAD OF FINANCE
Paul Carey
VIEWPOINTS >P5 claims moving quickly
> Set for the SEC climate rules? A CHANGING CASUALTY MARKET
DESIGNER & SUB-EDITOR
Laura Sharp > Scenario testing: You can’t set it and forget it Investing in an enhanced casualty offering will
> Ukraine triggers further crises meet the demands of insurers facing high inflation
email firstname.surname nqsm.com
and an increasing litigious, socially aware world.
#CHANGINGRISK >P8
THE PROBLEM WITH QUANT D&O >P20
GRMSi s Daniel Roberts spins a cautionary tale of THE SEARCH FOR SHELTER
strong models meeting weak scenarios, and the Senior managers have never been more
lessons we can all take away about quantification. exposed. But is it possible to find adequate
protection
RESILIENCE >P11
RIDE OUT THE STORM SPECIAL REPORT >P23
High risk is meeting low resilience to create this GETTING A GRIP ON INTANGIBLES
perfect storm. Risk experts agree batten down The pandemic has focused our attention on
the hatches and prepare for further choppy seas. intangible risks. Getting a firm grasp of the data
remains a challenge though.
PROFILE >P14
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE RISK LEADERS >P33
Incoming Airmic chair Tim Graham says no risk REASONS TO BE… CHEERFUL?
ISSN 2517-5734 manager is an island so let s get networking. NASA s David Green believes advances in tech
PUBLISHED BY combined with an open science approach are
Newsquest Specialist Media Limited,
registered in England & Wales with ASIA >P16 cause to be optimistic about the future.
number 02231 0 at Loudwater Mill,
Station Road, High Wycombe H 10 T FEAR FACTOR ESG: JUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP
a Gannett company We dig into the latest survey results on Asia's top The ESG road can be daunting, but, says
SUBSCRIPTIONS
risk concerns and ask does the region have a Dr Beverley Adams of Marsh Advisory, the
tel (0)20 01 handle on sustainability? important thing is that you are on the path.
email strategic.risk nqsm.com

COMPLAINTS – WHO TO CONTACT


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LEADER > AIRMIC 2022

ESG? Time to double down

No-one’s denying it. It’s a major challenge to scrutinise


your own sustainability practices and those of
your clients and suppliers. But this is what’s being
demanded and, ultimately, it could help you build the EMAIL > helen.yates@nqsm.com

resilience needed to survive this perfect storm.

C
limate activists outside the Lloyd’s The insurance industry is learning how hard it is to
insurance market have been busy so far in strike the right balance: to support clients at the start of
2022, using a variety of attention-grabbing their own transition journeys, while insisting on the need
direct-action techniques. Most recently this for tangible progress. And among the many external
included building a giant fake oil pipeline pressures is the worst energy crisis since the ’70s.
outside One Lime Street to protest Lloyd’s The World Economic Forum is calling for urgent
role in the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline in action to prioritise the energy transition. “While
Canada and the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline. there are difficult decisions to be taken to align the
For groups like Extinction Rebellion, change in the imperatives of energy security, sustainability and
“THERE IS A REAL
insurance industry is not happening fast enough. They affordability in the short term, now is the time to
accuse the market of greenwashing while they continue double down on action,” says WEF head of energy, FEAR THAT IF
to provide cover for heavy emitters. materials and infrastructure Roberto Bocca. CORPORATES
An issue that is becoming increasingly high profile Prioritising ESG means understanding how the risks DROP THE BALL
in the insurance sector has implications everywhere. and opportunities manifest both now and into the future. ON ANY OF THEIR
It is one reason risk managers are so concerned about It is a daunting but potentially rewarding task. Being a RESPONSIBILITIES
the reputational consequences of failing to act on good corporate citizen is more than just slipping a few AS STAKEHOLDER
ESG, according to this year’s Airmic survey. soundbites into the annual report. It is good for business, CAPITALISTS,
As UK corporate risk and insurance managers meet helping to build resilience and ensuring firms outperform THEY COULD SEE
in Liverpool for the Airmic Conference in June, one their competitors in a volatile world. ACTIVISTS SCALING
thing is certain, there is plenty to discuss and ESG Within Ukraine, the atrocities continue daily.
THEIR OWN HQ
is more than just a buzzword. The floodgates have Elsewhere, the full ramifications of the Russian invasion
have yet to be fully appreciated. It is anticipated that
WALLS.”
not yet opened where climate-related litigation is
concerned, but it is inevitable they will. spiralling food costs could cause social and political
As Marsh’s Bev Adams explains on page 35, one of unrest in countries reliant on Ukrainian wheat imports.
the challenges facing risk managers is knowing where to The 2022 Airmic survey’s headline is: “Risk and
start. Much of the measuring and management of ESG- resilience in a perfect storm”. “A perfect storm is
related risks already takes place, but not necessarily to typically understood to mean a disaster produced by a
the standard required under new reporting frameworks combination of chance factors,” says Airmic CEO Julia
or in a coherent and joined-up manner. Rare is the firm Graham. “However, the perfect storm created by climate
that successfully scrutinises its wider value chain to the change has nothing to do with chance – we understand
extent being encouraged under new EU laws. many of the issues and we know what can be done.”
Indeed, there is a risk that the immensity of the How to navigate the more immediate turmoil? ESG
challenge will mean certain aspects – such as climate will play an important role. In a recent webinar, Bruno
reporting for firms subject to TCFD, for instance will Dotti, ESG practice leader for Continental Europe at
be prioritised to the detriment of others. Marsh, advised firms to accept less margin in the short
There is a real fear that if corporates drop the term and invest in alternative sourcing, reshoring and/
ball on any of their responsibilities as stakeholder or stockpiling of raw materials. This will ensure they
capitalists, they could see activists scaling their own are more prepared when the major disruptions hit.
HQ walls or even face the wrath of the regulators. “You need to have the risk function really embedded
That’s in addition to embarrassing headlines and in the business,” Dotti told StrategicRISK. “This is not an
customers voting with their feet. issue for 2023, it’s an issue for now.” SR

www.strategic-risk-global.com < 2022 AIRMIC EDITION StrategicRISK 3


ANALYSIS > AIRMIC

Harsh Market Report 2022:


Time for an industry level up
Against the backdrop of eye-watering rates and disappointing capacity,
Airmic considers the work both insurers and risk professionals must do to
stay relevant and resilient in the face of fast-changing crises.

P
remium rates, and the scope of cover for all of us to up our game in identifying and preparing
and capacity, continue to disappoint, for emerging risks, and to think more deeply about
according to the latest Harsh Market “THERE IS AN the kinds of systemic risks that will unfortunately be a
Report from Airmic, although the survey URGENT NEED TO feature of the world we live in today,” she said.
results suggest signs of ‘green shoots’ UP OUR GAME IN Graham says the risk association’s members are
where the pace of the hardening is slowing. IDENTIFYING AND exposed to a wide range of impacts emanating from
But we are not out of the woods yet, and premium PREPARING FOR the Ukraine crisis. Speaking to StrategicRISK, she said
rates for cyber are skyrocketing. A tenth of respondents EMERGING RISKS, multiple industry sectors were feeling the effects,
experienced rate increases of more than 400%. AND TO THINK which range from sanctions and financial risks to
MORE DEEPLY supply chain disruption and energy supply issues.
INSURERS NEED TO SHAPE UP ABOUT THE KINDS “Airmic is taking a joined-up approach in guiding
The report is set in the context of growing discussions our members through this generation-defining
OF SYSTEMIC
on the future of the London market, with a view to its crisis, as a reflection of the interconnected risks
post-Brexit and post-pandemic life. The pandemic-
RISKS THAT WILL this conflict has brought,” said Graham. “We are
driven surge in the use of digital technologies by UNFORTUNATELY maintaining a platform for risk professionals to share
member organisations, many of which adjusted at short BE A FEATURE OF their experiences and exchange ideas during a fast-
notice to remote working, has accelerated the longer- THE WORLD WE evolving crisis with far-reaching implications.”
term trend towards digital transformation. LIVE IN TODAY.” Ukraine is a reminder of the unpredictable and
As respondents have underscored, current insurers Chief executive, Airmic complex risk landscape we are operating in. “The
stand to lose business to more modern, agile insurance Julia Graham volatility in international relations we are seeing today is
competitors who are without legacy systems, unless a confluence of several explosive factors, which
they also up their game in the digital sphere. was long in the making,” said Graham. “It has its
“The insurance model is changing,” concludes the roots in the austerity faced in the aftermath of
report. “It now more geared towards understanding risk the global financial crisis of 200 0 .”
and managing it better. Climate change is expected to
cause a seismic growth in economic losses, and global FOR WHATEVER COMES NEXT
insurance premiums will reach record levels. “Adding to this now, we have seen the rising impact
“The insurance industry needs to rise to the of social media, increasing geopolitical tensions, the
challenge urgently. It needs to shift its focus from pandemic, and pressure on energy resources. The world
protection to prevention. New technologies such as may get even more unpredictable and tumultuous from
artificial intelligence and machine learning will be key here, and this is where risk professionals have a role to
to reducing costs and creating value for all parties. play in stepping up to help their organisations navigate
“Silos between the ‘risk’ and ‘insurance’ buckets are and respond through it all.”
being removed. But the insurance industry still needs Graham says the onus is once
to respond in a more connected way. The insurance again on the risk management
industry, risk professionals and government community. “There is an imperative
need to collaborate and move forward for risk professionals to learn and
together.” apply the lessons of the pandemic
and the Russia-Ukraine conflict,
A ‘GENERATION-DEFINING CRISIS’ boost preparedness, so as to
The invasion by Russia of Ukraine is another ensure the agility and adaptability
example of how risk forecasts can underestimate the of their responses during a fast-
scale of an impending crisis. This is according to Airmic moving crisis. Skills associated with
chief executive Julia Graham. “There is an urgent need scenario planning will be at the forefront.” SR

4 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


VIEWPOINTS >

Set on the SEC climate rules?


Full disclosure. Publicly listed firms will be compelled to report on
third-party climate risks, as well as their own, explains supply chain
expert Atul Vashistha. Time to zone in on those blind spots.

A
s the world emerges from the global spots before the requirements go into effect, or
pandemic, climate change is once conversely the market uncovers unexpected
“MORE THAN again taking centre stage, with the US climate issues. Institutional investors who fail to
50% OF LARGE Securities and Exchange Commission address climate change risks can expect to reduce
BUSINESSES (SEC) proposing new rules to enhance the value of their portfolios by as much as 10% in the
AND 25% OF and standardise climate disclosures. next 20 years.
THEIR SUPPLIERS Upon adoption, public companies will be required to
HAVE SEEN disclose climate-related risks that could impact the 24/7 RISK MONITORING
COST SAVINGS organisation. The only way to effectively mitigate ESG risks is
AS A RESULT OF With the increased attention from stakeholders proactively, with continuous risk monitoring for 2
THEIR CARBON investors, boards, customers, partners and employees visibility. Businesses need an up-to-date risk picture
along with these impending climate disclosure of their entire landscape, from suppliers next door to
MANAGEMENT
requirements, companies need the ability to access a Nth parties across the world. While it’s not efficient nor
ACTIVITIES.”
current understanding of their risk exposure. effective to rely on humans for this visibility, teams can
Founder, Supply Wisdom Keeping in mind that their biggest climate exposure leverage today’s automation, AI and machine learning
Atul Vashistha could be hidden in their supply chains, companies to do more with less.
need the ability to understand and report on their third It’s also important to expand the risk aperture.
parties’ climate risks as well as their own. Companies need to monitor a comprehensive,
international standards-based ESG risk framework that
BEYOND YOUR FOUR WALLS goes beyond climate-related risks to include a broad
The SEC’s proposed rule requires registrants to taxonomy of ESG risks such as equality, diversity and
include certain climate disclosures in their registration inclusion, and location-specific ESG factors.
statements and periodic reports. The requirements With the current US administration’s attention
are for climate-related risks that are likely to to these matters, it won’t be long before disclosure
materially impact business, results of operation, or around other ESG-related risks are expected or even
financial condition. They go beyond the organisation’s mandatory.
four walls. Prioritising climate is not only good for the
According to McKinsey, the average company’s world it’s good for business. Good ESG stewardship
supply chain creates a greater environmental impact means greater investment, talent attraction and
than its own operations. In fact, the supply chain retention and greener supply chains mean more
accounts for more than 0 of greenhouse gas (GHG) profit. In fact, more than 0 of large businesses
emissions and more than 0 of the impact on and 2 of their suppliers have seen cost savings
geological resources. This is problematic, as the SEC’s as a result of their carbon management activities,
proposed rule would require disclosed GHG emissions according to CDP.
data (Scope 3) from upstream and downstream The SEC’s proposed rules will hold businesses
activities in a company’s value chain. and their supply chains accountable and provide
While these disclosure requirements would apply stakeholders with decision-useful information on
to public companies, private companies should also climate risks. There’s potential to be capitalised
expect to provide decision-useful information on on here and major risk to be avoided. The most
climate-related risks as their stakeholders will soon successful leaders will quickly upgrade their risk
demand it. management approach and be fully prepared
The issue here is that more than half of companies for climate and other ESG disclosures on the
lack end-to-end visibility in their supply chains. In fact, near horizon. SR
of company executives do not feel their current
capabilities allow them to deliver the traceability Atul Vashistha is a leading expert on supply
needed to remain resilient and sustainable. chain risk and global business services. He is
The time to act is now to address these blind founder and chair of Supply Wisdom.

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 5


VIEWPOINTS >

Scenario testing:
You can’t set it and forget it
Firms must increase the sophistication of their scenario planning over time,
says whyaye’s Stuart Birnie. And remember, no pain, no gain. Challenging
scenarios will build confidence that you can respond to anything.

C
ompanies and individuals have never ransomware attack. Over time, you may want to include
been more globally interconnected. secondary events such as customer data leakage or
The world is becoming riskier, more destruction. Move from desktop walk-through to more “IT HELPS TO
digitised and under more scrutiny than sophisticated testing (e.g., war games no notice tests). FORMULATE A
ever before. All these factors have meant If you have critical third parties involved in LIST OF ‘SEVERE
the nature and severity of risks that delivering key customer outcomes, then include them BUT PLAUSIBLE’
companies are facing is evolving rapidly, resulting in in your scenario testing. Ensure you have experienced SCENARIOS YOU
more operational incidents including cyber attacks, facilitators and all improvements captured are WISH TO TEST.
pandemics and geopolitical events. monitored. The CEO and senior leadership should be START SMALL
Scenario planning has a key role to play in allowing actively involved at every stage. AND INCREASE IN
you to operate effectively in this environment. Done We worked with a financial services firm that had SOPHISTICATION.”
correctly, it will allow you to identify risks to your previously undertaken basic desktop scenario tests,
Operational risk and
organisation, ensure your risk treatment is effective, but had found when incidents occurred, response resilience subject matter
and allow you to practice and refine your response and recovery activities weren’t coordinated and expert, whyaye
and recovery to a risk event. communications were disjointed. We set about Stuart Birnie
Scenario planning should involve all levels of the enhancing their scenario testing using these five steps.
organisation, including the C-suite. Benefits include
• Proactively identifying and mitigating risks to prevent
an operational incident occurring in the first place
• Practicing and continually improving your ability
1 DETERMINE THE SCENARIO
We consulted with business stakeholders
and determined a list of ‘severe but plausible’
to respond and recover from operational incidents scenarios we wished to test over a period of time.
in a timely and effective manner (because these These were designed to test the
events will happen) organisation’s ability to respond
• Ensuring you operate with integrity and comply and recover they weren’t
with relevant regulation scenarios we knew we could
• Being in control, so that when an incident occurs, be easily respond to.
you know you can respond appropriately. By
having this comfort, you can instil confidence in
colleagues, customers and regulators. 2 PLANNING
A lot of effort
went into this to
When implementing scenario testing, it is important ensure we got
to understand what outcomes you are trying to the required
deliver, and the people, technology, third parties, benefits.
data, processes and facilities that enable this delivery. Objectives
Essentially, what are the ‘crown jewels’ you are seeking and roles
to protect. were set
It helps to formulate a list of ‘severe but plausible’ and
scenarios you wish to test. What are the scenarios that
might impact your ability to deliver these key customer
outcomes? Start small and increase in sophistication.
So, you might start with a
small desktop exercise to walk
through your response to a

6 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


agreed with senior management. We gathered data on
existing processes, as well as risk data and information
5 TEST COMPLETION REPORT
Finally, we documented the identified
on known vulnerabilities. This allowed us to ensure vulnerabilities (there were over 10) and the lessons
everyone was briefed in advance and we had a ‘run learned (there were six) and the report was circulated
book’ for the event. and approved. The actions were then tracked through

3
existing risk management processes.
EXECUTE THE TEST
During the test, we leveraged the run book to Ultimately the client executed a robust scenario
ensure we robustly tested the process. We referred to test and identified vulnerabilities to remediate.
the data collected prior to the event such as process Equally importantly, senior management and the
maps, known vulnerabilities, recovery time objectives team increased their capability in executing response,
impact tolerances to ensure they were all accurate and recovery and communication plans.
to identify any unknown vulnerabilities. Scenario testing is a very powerful discipline that

4
gives you peace of mind that risks are being identified
IDENTIFY RESILIENCE and managed and you have robust response, recovery
IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS and communications capabilities. As your approach
This was carried out over two sessions. The first becomes more refined, organisations should look to
session we held within 2 hours to reflect on any move to a continuous scenario testing approach. SR
vulnerabilities identified. The second was held a few
days later to reflect on the process and the experience, Stuart Birnie is operational risk and resilience
and to identify lessons learned for future tests. subject matter expert at whyaye.

Ukraine triggers further crises


Sanctions designed to impact the Kremlin will certainly do damage,
says Validus Risk Management’s Phillip Pearce. But we live in a connected
global economy – so will crippling Russia end up crippling us?

A
s the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued to rise as energy commodity prices surged
continues, many are speculating due to supply chain issues caused by the pandemic.
about how it will impact the world Russia produces 10% of global oil and supplies 40%
economy. The financial sanctions of Europe’s gas. It is also the world’s largest producer
and policy response so far have of grains and fertiliser key inputs in day-to-day items
been extraordinary, from Germany’s from fuel to food.
decision to reverse its historic policy of never sending It’s clear that inflationary pressures aren’t going
weapons to a conflict zone, to the West banning anywhere and that they could remain elevated for the
Russian banks from SWIFT, and the ban of most foreseeable future. Further stresses from the sanctions
transactions with the Russian Central bank. against Russia are evident in money markets and the
We are witnessing a seismic shift in the world as we short end of the interest rate curve, as the need for
know it. Many of these sanctions are designed to cripple dollar funding to cover asset liquidations and possible
the Russian economy in the hope that it will spur protest defaults increases, and payments spike to levels last
and force a change in the Kremlin’s approach. seen in March 2020.
As the headlines continue to roll in and a new
INFLATIONARY PRESSURES “cold war” era emerges, risk management is going to
The sanctions will certainly damage the Russian be vital to navigating the rough seas ahead to ensure
economy, but we live in a connected global economy increasingly frequent outlier events don’t sink our
at a time when central banks are grappling with proverbial ships. SR
elevated levels of inflation and on the precipice of an
aggressive hiking cycle. Phillip Pearce is associate, Global Capital
Over the course of the last year, inflation has Markets, at Validus Risk Management.

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 7


FOCUS > #CHANGINGRISK

The problem with quant


Your models are only as good as the data and scenarios
you plug in. And what Daniel Roberts has learnt from past
experience is that past experience can teach you a lot.
Sometimes you need to stop following the numbers and
start following your instincts.

M
any years ago, in a land far away… ONCE UPON A TIME
it’s how so many good stories begin. Many years ago I was a mainframe systems capacity
And from those stories, we are planner. This meant building complex models of
supposed to learn lessons. mainframe systems based on performance data
My experience has taught me that collected by the customer. The data would provide
quantification and modelling as a us with a picture of system utilisation at the CICS
means of predicting potential outcomes can be a useful [customer information control system] partition and
tool, or it can be horribly flawed. Models are only as even at the major transaction level.
good as the data and assumptions that go into them. All subsystems would be measured, and we would
How many of us, for instance, included the build the model to simulate the resource usage.
possibility of a major geopolitical conflict in their The compute intensiveness of each application
Monte Carlo simulations for 2022? or subsystem would be simulated, and models run.
Effective quantitative risk management The result was cross-checked against the actual
relies heavily on the quality of the scenarios and system utilisation reports provided. Memory would be
assumptions. And this is perhaps best illustrated by modelled, along with disk and network utilisation.
a fairytale. So let us begin. We built a model that would emulate the client’s

8 StrategicRISK 2022 AIRMIC EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


Normally, it would take two days to create and
calibrate the model, and then we would spend three
days running various scenarios. These could range from
• Implementing new applications or system
• Increasing the number of offices
• New users for an application or system
• The potential acquisition of a competitor or other
business (and integration onto existing platforms)
• Increased functionality in (and consequent load
from) an application or system
• Merging systems onto fewer but more powerful
platforms
Or combinations of the above. Usually, the
scenarios were connected to a business and strategic
plan. If the business plan said that there would be
ten new branches opened in the coming year – we
“MY EXPERIENCE would model the impact based on the average load of
HAS TAUGHT branches of the size of the new branches.
ME THAT A new application? How does that application
QUANTIFICATION compare to the existing application? Will it replace an
AND MODELLING application, thus freeing up capacity? For packages,
AS A MEANS what were the load requirements or estimates
OF PREDICTING provided by the vendor
This was years ago. Less than a decade ago, a
POTENTIAL
systems architect told me that the answer to all
OUTCOMES CAN BE
capacity problems is “ ust spool up another server.”
A USEFUL TOOL, OR That option was not available.
IT CAN BE HORRIBLY The role of modelling was to develop a quant-
FLAWED.” based assessment of potential futures so that strategic
Founder, GRMSi and operational planning could progress smoothly.
Daniel Roberts Everything depended on the quality of the assumptions
being made, and the realistic – or otherwise – nature of
the scenarios or combinations of scenarios that were
being assessed.

A SPANNER IN THE WORKS


For one client, a large insurance company, we
scheduled the capacity-planning exercise some
months in advance. We ensured the client gathered
the appropriate systems performance data to feed
into our initial model. Multiple trial runs were made to
prepare and we were ready for the week.
On the first day, we were able to calibrate the model
to represent the client’s mainframe environment to
within a percentage point for all major applications
and subsystems. And we were ready to calibrate major
mainframe environment down to the second decimal transactions and specific activities.
place of utilisation by element. The second day was consumed by gaining exact
From that model, once it was agreed that it actually calibrations of all applications and subsystems, and
did represent the customer’s system, we would apply most key transactions (the system heavy activities
a number of scenarios to determine when the system identified from the performance data) to one decimal
would reach capacity, so that any upgrades could be plan of accuracy.
budgeted for early enough, and pre-orders placed. By the middle of the third day, we had everything
This was in the days when lead-times for major modelled to within two decimal places, and could
system components (main memory, disk and even replicate the results with multiple runs of the model.
C U upgrade) could take three to six months for Now we were ready to start running the scenarios.
delivery. Six months of slow system response in an ATM “Let’s see your main scenarios. We’ll start with a simple
network, for example, could result in customer queues one,” I suggested.
and ultimately a loss of customers to rival banks. To which the client responded “Oh, I don’t have
And the upgrade components were not cheap. any right now. I’ll come up with some tonight, and we
A major systems upgrade could be a board-level can run them tomorrow.” rofessionalism stopped me
procurement request. from blurting out something inappropriate.

www.strategic-risk-global.com < 2020 AIRMIC EDITION StrategicRISK 9


FOCUS > #CHANGINGRISK

Assumptions should be tested where possible. The quantified, it is worth first considering if quantification
client should have confirmed their strategic plan and of that particular risk will have any real meaning,
operational requirements, their development plans “QUALIFICATION beyond a simplistic “high, medium, low”.
and priorities for the coming year. All these should OF RISKS, IN There is a place for quantitative modelling of
have been known well before we began. ASSESSMENT, complex systems, high-volume activities and potential
PROBABILITY portfolio performance. Usually. However, there are
IT’S ALL IN THE ASSUMPTIONS CONSIDERATIONS many situations in which the greatest forecasting
Let us apply this cautionary tale to any Monte Carlo AND MITIGATION value comes not from models, but from the combined
simulation (or other modelling methodology) exercise. STRATEGIES, CAN knowledge and experience of individuals.
The number of iterations that the model runs is DELIVER BETTER ualification of risks, in assessment, probability
irrelevant if the input assumptions have not been considerations and mitigation strategies, can deliver
RESULTS THAN
carefully considered and validated. better results than ’following the numbers’.
’FOLLOWING THE
When modelling climate, if the starting assumptions I have also learned that if you control the
do not include actual CO2 emissions, for instance, then NUMBERS’.” assumptions, you can determine the results, regardless
the results may vary widely from predictions. Founder, GRMSi of the quantification tools and processes used.
Likewise, if assumptions about the carrying Daniel Roberts Where quantification is desired, don’t forget to
capacity of the Amazon basin or the Siberian tundra spend time and energy on the development and
are wrong, the modelled results will be wrong. analysis of your assumptions. SR
This is not to suggest that climate change is not
real and the impact will not be extreme at current Daniel Roberts is risk advisor and founder of
trajectories. But it does suggest that assumptions used GRMSi (Governance and Risk Management
need to be well-tested and continuously reassessed. Services).
And climate scientists are doing exactly that testing
and confirming their input assumptions. They are
certainly not going home and coming up with some
scenarios overnight.
There are massive models, utilising many millions
of times the computing power that I was using to
model mainframes. And these supercomputers
are looking at and analysing huge quantities of
information and data.
Insurance providers are able to provide quotes
based on millions of (claims) events. et assumptions
about future drivers of claims may be wrong.
Still, with millions of events used to calibrate
models of future claims probabilities, in most cases
unexpected future contributors to claims should not
be so different as to completely invalidate the pricing
models currently being used. However, the profitability
of the overall insurance book might be impacted.
Historical loss experience does not always help
us determine the future. During the height of the
pandemic, personal behaviours changed dramatically,
for instance, resulting in a direct impact on the validity
of pre-pandemic modelling.

MODELS ARE JUST MODELS


Coming back to the original point. uantification
of low-number events or situations borders on the
meaningless. When the assumptions and scenarios
are not well thought through, then a million-plus
interactions and events simulation will not give future
projections that can provide any real confidence.
In the case of most risks, the quality of
“quantification” comes from the quality of internal
networks and the ability to consider the range of
potential impacts that could lead to the realisation of
the risk, or achievement of the benefits.
It also relies on the openness of individuals to
discuss potential bottlenecks, and a culture that seeks
clarification over attribution of blame.
Therefore, when deciding whether a risk can be
FOCUS > RESILIENCE

A
s an unprecedented array of
hostile events rains down on the
global economy, businesses should
respond by making themselves as
resilient as possible, probably for
the next two or three years at least.
That’s the collective conclusion of risk experts,
as a broad range of threats coming from all
directions will impact nearly every aspect of
business including treasury and finance, logistics
and supply chains, human resources, customers
and reputation.
As Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine,
and governments have responded with tough
sanctions, prompting commodity shortages, interest
rates and inflation are on the rise for the first time in
years and there are warnings of the ever-present threat
of a spill over into cyber attacks.
“There is an imperative for risk professionals
to learn and apply the lessons of the pandemic
and the Ukraine crisis, boost
preparedness, so as to ensure the
agility and adaptability of their

8.5%
responses during a fast-moving
crisis. Skills associated with
scenario planning will be at
the forefront,” says Airmic chief The US’s price index
executive Julia Graham. leap from March 2021
to March 2022

NOWHERE TO HIDE
Many businesses are facing the
perfect storm of high risk and low
resilience as geopolitics moves rapidly up the agenda.
According to research by Beazley, these risks will peak
in summer 2022.
Adrian Cox, CEO at Beazley, says: “Business
leaders continue to face perhaps the stiffest test in
a generation as the world reels from the economic

Ride out whirlwind unleashed by COVID-19 to the unfolding


horror and ensuing geopolitical dislocation caused by
the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
“Business resilience is under real threat as

the storm companies adjust to a new world order in which


everything, from trading relationships, through
commodity prices to supply chains, needs to be
re-evaluated from the ground up.”
Among the high-risk/low-resilience threats business
leaders are most concerned about are the economy,
political risk, inflation, environmental damage and
supply chain risk. The supply chain crisis rumbles
The phrase ‘perfect storm’ was made on, with recent lockdowns in Shanghai delivering a
$28 billion hit to global trade, according to analysis by
for times like these, as relentless crises Russell Group.
Rachael Johnson, head of risk management and
hit businesses still reeling from recent corporate governance at ACCA, says: “Over the past
few weeks, we have seen once again how the velocity
shocks. Better strap in and focus on your and context of risk can change dramatically within a
matter of days, if not hours, and how companies are
resilience, because the forecast shows affected no matter where they are based or what line
of business they are in.”
conditions are not getting any calmer. “Recent crises have forced organisations to rethink
how they keep up with the speed of risk, and they
FOCUS > RESILIENCE

can only do that if they get their risk management or materials or anything else, [we need] resilient
framework – the principles, processes and practices – economies that favour a portfolio of manufacturing
better aligned.” and supply options.”
“Governments should pursue a strategy that
ENERGY SHOCK AND INFLATION results in more stable prices and production of

100
Inflation could be heading for double figures in several domestic energy. Opting to maximise rather
countries after years of low single numbers. Currently, than minimise national dependency on
most advanced economies face year-on-year inflation $ existing fossil resources results in high
above 5%. As McKinsey points out: “The consumer The cost of a barrel of prices that provide a stream of wealth for
price index jumped by 8.5% from March 2021 to March Brent crude oil in nations like Russia.”
2022 in the United States for a 0-year record, by . 2022, up 42% from The IMF agrees. “More diversification,
in the eurozone, and by in the United Kingdom.” 2021. Source: not less, improves resilience,” the
World Bank
And for the first time since the early 1 0s, there’s organisation argues in its latest World
an energy crisis, with some energy-intensive industries Economic Outlook, in a general refutation
facing a nearly 50% jump in production costs, of the pandemic-triggered demands for the
according to calculations by the IMF. “European energy dismantling – or at least shortening – of global value
markets are experiencing an unprecedented shock,” chains. It argues that ‘reshoring’ is misguided, with
says Enverus Intelligence Research, citing a five-fold research suggesting countries and sectors have
increase in short-term gas prices over their 2021 substantial room to diversify away from domestic
average as quoted on the largest European exchange. sources in favour of international suppliers.
“[It] comes from a confluence of long-term trends “RESILIENCE IS “Supply chain issues are only discovered during
and current trends, including shifts in sentiment UNDER THREAT times of crisis – and this latest disruptive episode
among customers and investors, carbon pricing, the AS COMPANIES following Brexit and COVID-1 has been no different,”
post-COVID-19 surge in global demand and, most ADJUST TO A explains Andrew Newton, food consultant at
recently, conflict in Ukraine.” NEW WORLD Columbus UK, a specialist in digital business solutions.
And that’s just gas. In its latest Commodity Markets ORDER IN WHICH “As world economies reopen, demand for energy,
Outlook in April, the World Bank notes that the price EVERYTHING labour and transport has skyrocketed. Industries
of Brent crude oil is projected to average $100 a barrel FROM TRADING from retail to food and beverage have all seen varying
in 2022, a 42% increase from 2021 and the highest degrees of severity. If left unaddressed, inefficient
RELATIONSHIPS,
level since 2013. The energy crisis is “a material risk”, supply chains can become a crippling economic
it warns, given that prices could rise far more than
THROUGH
burden and jeopardise a company’s future.”
forecast, “especially if EU sanctions on Russian energy COMMODITY
are broadened”. PRICES TO SUPPLY READY FOR 70S-STYLE STAGFLATION?
Here are some sobering numbers for the resilience- CHAINS, NEEDS TO In terms of inflation, how should businesses
conscious among us. BE RE-EVALUATED.” protect themselves? In its latest sigma report,
In March 2022, energy prices had shot up by more CEO, Beazley Swiss Re Institute forecasts a stagflation-like economic
than four times over those of April 2020, for the biggest Adrian Cox environment for 2022 and 2023, characterised
23-month increase since the last energy shock in 1 3. by higher inflation and lower real GD growth.
Simultaneously, the price of fertilisers and food Unlike the structural stagflation of the 1 0s, this
rose to the highest level since 2008. Metals and stagflation will be cyclical, with the slowdown in
minerals jumped by 24% in just one year. economic growth leading to lower but still very high
Wheat prices are forecast to jump 40%. The inflation in 2023.
Ukraine-Russia region is responsible for nearly According to McKinsey, chief executives need to
one-third of global wheat exports and 65% of take charge and manage it down, for instance by
sunflower. Egypt, Turkey and countries in asking themselves how the business “can design

400%
East Africa are expected to be particularly products, services and experiences to deliver value”.
vulnerable to a burgeoning food crisis That would involve the stabilising of supply chains
over the coming months. that may be broken, control of costs, staff
Inevitably, in a highly compensation and repricing among other tasks.
Energy prices have
interconnected world, these issues will quadrupled since Ultimately, it’s about crisis management, says
have further knock-on consequences. April 2020 Sally Llewellyn, regional security director EMEA for
One of the causes of the Arab Spring, International SOS, the global workplace, security
for instance, was a rise in the cost of food. and medical consultancy. “While in the past, crisis
Even if the conflict were to stop tomorrow, management teams were often activated for fairly short-
most forecasters expect commodity prices to stay term crises, COVID-19 completely changed that because
high for the next two years at least. of the constantly changing nature of the pandemic,
government interventions and other restrictions.”
RESILIENCE NEEDS DIVERSIFICATION? “In addition to COVID, other geopolitical issues
Supply chains are the front line as the vital linkage such as military conflict, coups, terrorism and other
between producer and consumer. “The Ukraine crisis upheavals have also caused crisis management teams
has put supply chains back in focus,” says Jim Lane, to be activated. Many are juggling multiple issues at
an authority on bio-economies. “Whether it’s fuels the same time.”

12 StrategicRISK 2022 AIRMIC EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


As pressure grows on these teams, they need to to a decision and why they are taking a certain action.”
be protected from burn-out. Llewellyn suggests a This is certainly the case as the Great Resignation
four-point plan. Back-up talent should be identified - or ‘Big Quit’ – gathers pace. “Employees are not
“GONE ARE THE
to ease the burden and improve responses to future just making decisions on salary and benefits,” notes DAYS WHEN A
crises. ersonnel should be rotated. External experts McKinsey. “They are looking for a company that is BOARD REVIEWED
should be brought in to share the pressure on teams willing to do the right thing. That’s become a much ITS PRINCIPAL
and provide third-party advice and governance. And bigger trend in the past couple of years.” RISKS ON AN
technology such as Zoom should be deployed for So perhaps a perfect storm presents opportunities ANNUAL BASIS.
quick decisions. as well as difficulties. Organisations that are poised MANAGING RISK
to respond to the challenges that lie ahead, to treat TODAY MUST BE
THE S IN ESG their responsibilities under ESG as more than just a A DYNAMIC AND
erhaps the first point of call for chief executives is tick-box, and to prioritise longer-term resilience will CONTINUOUS
their people. Good staff are the backbone of a crisis- inevitably be best-positioned to ride out the storm
PROCESS – AND
proof business, says Sara Cohen, chief people officer clouds that lie ahead.
at Forsta. “A business is only as good as its people, But a robust approach must be continuously
ON EVERY BOARD
especially in the technology industry. The longer people re-evaluated, believes Airmic’s Graham. MEETING AGENDA.”
work with one employer, the better they know their “Gone are the days when a board reviewed its CEO, Airmic
colleagues and customers, and the company’s systems principal risks on an annual basis,” she says. “Managing Julia Graham
and products. And the longer that teams work together, risk today must be a dynamic and continuous process
the better their ability to cooperate effectively.” – and on every board meeting agenda. It cannot be
“More than ever, employees want transparency,” written up as part of an annual report then put away
she says. “They want to know what’s going on, how it for the rest of the year.”
impacts them, and whether it is socially responsible. “Even in a great report, there’s often still too much
Over the past year, I’ve noticed that people aren’t focus on the short term and the downside of risk, to
afraid to ask questions and demand information. the exclusion of thinking longer term and about the
Managers must be prepared to explain how they come opportunities risk, well-managed, can offer.” SR

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our way
around...
Risk

We study it, research it, speak on it, share insights on


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is authorised by the UK Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (No. 202655). Registered with Companies House
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PROFILE >

You’ll never walk alone


As he takes up the Airmic chairmanship, Tim Graham explains why
there’s no room for lone wolves in risk and how his decision to ‘jump
ship’ into risk management was the best of his career.

T
im Graham has had a long and illustrious helm as chair when Claire Combes steps down at the
career, initially as a chartered and Airmic AGM on Monday 6 June.
financial accountant before making “I am tremendously excited to be picking up
the leap into the world of risk. With risk the reins as chair of Airmic,” he says. “I am also
management roles at major household humbled when I look at the some of the individuals
names, including Sainsbury’s, BAA and that have held the position before me. I feel very
currently pharmaceutical giant GSK, he became proud and fortunate to be part of the Airmic team,
Airmic deputy chair last year and is due to take up the who constantly show so much enthusiasm and

14 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


commitment to our members and partners.” lens’ needs to extend much further ahead to capture
“I joined Airmic over 20 years ago when I found an these emerging and global frontier risks’. These
organisation with the same passion and enthusiasm events have also highlighted the importance of
for risk management that I held then, and still do data and analytics to better model risk, the value of
today,” he adds. “I am keen now to continue building more robust business continuity planning and crisis
Airmic’s reputation as an organisation that stimulates management.”
thought leadership and organisational learning in risk
management.” MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
“Reflecting on the challenges we have all experienced Collaboration is critical moving forward. One of the
over the past few years, I also want to encourage a best pieces of advice Graham was given during his
culture for today’s risk managers to become more agile, career was that, “A lone wolf cannot manage risk”.
strategic and vocal in their thinking when managing risk.” “Everyone has an important role to play,” he explains.
“This is best achieved by building strong networks and
NEVER STOP LEARNING trust with key stakeholders and a culture of continuous
Graham feels very fortunate with the path that his open communication and engagement.”
career has taken and says that moving into risk This is one reason why he believes the face-to-face
management was the best decision he has made in nature of this year’s Airmic conference in Liverpool is
his work life to date. “I initially qualified as a chartered so important, building on the success of last year’s
accountant, which has always been a great anchor October conference in Brighton.
throughout my career and for the various positions I “The event will present a great opportunity to
have held in commerce and industry.” share and reflect on collective experiences of the past
“I decided to jump ship’ from mainstream finance year and, most importantly, for everyone to leverage
to the world of risk management and insurance early the unique annual event that the Airmic conference
on in my career at a time when the importance and brings, to connect and move forward together’, the
value that risk management brings to business was key theme of this year’s conference.”
gaining increased recognition.” “The world has entered a period of intense
When he was sponsored by Sainsbury’s to enrol turbulence and uncertainty. Climate change, disease,
in an MBA programme, it was a second important population migration, technological and economic
professional turning point. “I have always been an disruptions, and the war in Ukraine are all ‘once in
advocate for lifetime learning’,” explains Graham. “I a generation’ events, each of which has radically
have been involved in some significant and engaging changed the global risk landscape.”
corporate change programmes during my career “Airmic 2022 in Liverpool provides a unique
and had the opportunity to support some global opportunity to connect, consider strategic
charitable projects along the way, which I have found questions and develop ideas for the challenges
to be personally rewarding, too.” and opportunities we face with our peers, partners,
The MBA opened his eyes to a more holistic view of exhibitors and experts to consider how we can move
business and the value of aligning risk management forward together’ to manage these risks,” he continues.
with wider business strategy. He has held onto this “I am sure, as it always does, that the conference will
belief, and thinks it is more relevant than ever as risk provide the opportunity to have some fun, too.”
“THE WORLD professionals help guide their organisation’s decision-
HAS ENTERED A makers through such a tumultuous period. CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
PERIOD OF INTENSE “The last two and a half years have seen So is it time to build bridges with the insurance
TURBULENCE… unprecedented challenges and change for businesses industry and learn some of the lessons after three
CLIMATE CHANGE, and risk managers alike,” says Graham. “The recent years of harsh market’ conditions Graham believes
DISEASE, geopolitical, environmental, economic and pandemic it is time to leverage the trust built between the
POPULATION events require risk managers to think and act corporate and insurance world to develop new risk
MIGRATION, differently. Enabling businesses to effectively respond management and risk transfer solutions.
to these events can only strengthen and elevate “ remium rates, and the scope of cover and
TECHNOLOGICAL
the importance and value of risk manager roles to capacity, have continued to be a challenge for all,” he
AND ECONOMIC corporate boards and financial markets.” acknowledges. “Nevertheless, the latest Airmic survey
DISRUPTIONS, The profession has evolved considerably as a result of members suggests signs of green shoots’ where
AND THE WAR of the experience of the pandemic and other recent the pace of the hardening is slowing, in line with other
IN UKRAINE ARE shocks, he thinks. Like Airmic chief executive ulia surveys on the market.”
ALL ‘ONCE IN A Graham (no relation), he thinks one of the important “We are not out of the woods yet, and premium
GENERATION’ lessons is the need for more future gazing as we try rates for cyber especially continue at challenging
EVENTS.” to better anticipate what may come down the line. levels. We advise policyholders to check the terms of
While not all major shocks can be anticipated, scenario their cyber renewals and the controls demanded by
Incoming chair, Airmic
Tim Graham planning should ensure businesses are better prepared insurers as these can be subject to material change
to respond to the next curveball. and could catch policyholders off-guard.” SR
“While traditional risk frameworks and registers
will continue to remain important, recent events have The comments in this article are those of Tim Graham
shown that the focal point of our risk management and not of GSK.

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 15


FOCUS > ASIA

Fear factor
Exceptionally varied and diverse, Asia as a region defies
most generalisation. But when it comes to risk, the same three
fears dominate – cyber attack, economic slowdown and BI. All while
organisations try to pinpoint what ‘sustainability’ really means for them.

A
sia has faced significant challenges over damage, cashflow risk and supply chain failure were
the past couple of years. At the initial also cited as major causes for concern.
epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, “EVERYBODY TALKS For directors and officers, a separate study by
Asian organisations continue to grapple ABOUT HAVING Willis Towers Watson and Clyde & Co found that
with the virus more than two years THIS CAPABILITY cyber attacks and data loss were the top two concerns
on, while dealing with a host of other TO LET PEOPLE for the second year running. Cyber extortion ranked
unique risk factors across the continent. WORK REMOTELY… as the third greatest risk, followed by regulatory risk,
Aon’s 2021 Global Risk Management Survey provided WHAT WE HAVEN’T including threat of fines, penalties and risk of health
a snapshot of the biggest risk factors in Asia over the PERHAPS SEEN IS and safety environmental prosecutions.
past 12 months. The broking and advisory group’s THE DOWNSIDES CO 2 , combined with increasing governmental
survey found that business interruption, an economic and regulatory measures, has driven up concerns
OF THESE SYSTEMS
slowdown, and the ever-present threat of cyber attacks around climate change risk in some regions. While it
THAT COULDN’T
were the top three risks for risk professionals. still doesn’t appear in the top 5 for any region, it is the
Aon’s survey also noted pandemic risks, health COPE.” number six risk in the UK, Asia and Australasia.
crises, changing market factors and increasing General secretary, Parima Entering the second quarter of 2022, a number of
competition as prominent issues. Commodity price Steve Tunstall these factors remain significant challenges for Asian
risk, scarcity of materials, reputational and brand risk professionals. Issues like a supply chain slowdown,

16 StrategicRISK 2022 AIRMIC EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


amid a ESG RISES UP THE AGENDA
worsening According to Tunstall, who is based in Singapore, the
COVID issue of sustainability, and transitioning to carbon net
situation zero, is also a priority for Asian risk managers. While he
in China, and was “pleased sustainability is getting onto boardroom
subsequent problems agendas”, he says “there’s still a real mix of definitions,
across supply chains interpretation and understanding”.
and manufacturing “Some organisations are laser focused on climate
facilities, loom larger in change, others are still talking in terms of ESG. So
2022 than in 2021. we’re seeing quite a mixture in how this has been
In a bid to untangle interpreted by the community. I think it’s a matter of time
supply chain issues, nations until we end up with global standards that people can
including Singapore and New ealand have begun shoot for. The key thing for me is that it has people’s
to strike deals to ease the path for exporters. Asian attention. It only had the attention of 5% of companies
corporates with close ties to China are expected to five years ago. Now it’s on the agenda for every
struggle on as several cities in China, including the company. The question is whether they have the tools,
powerhouse of Shanghai, deal with strict lockdowns. knowledge and ability to do anything about it.”
“Fundamentally there’s a need for education,” he
CYBER: APAC IS MOST ATTACKED REGION adds. “There’s been a lack of consistency from political
ASIA: According to IBM’s X-Force Threat intelligence team, leaders as to how changes will be implemented.”
TOP RISKS APAC was the most attacked region by cybercriminals in
2021, accounting for one in four attacks globally. Japan,
Kelvin Wu, corporate risk manager for International
SOS, also cites sustainability as a major risk factor
Australia and India received the most attacks, ranging for the year ahead. “We are seeing ESG, and in particular
1 CYBER ATTACKS from server access hacks to remote access Trojans and sustainability, as a topic very much at the forefront
data theft. across the region. Given the broad definition of
2 BUSINESS arima has cyber firmly at the top of its greatest sustainability and the initial focus of it around
INTERRUPTION risks. A member survey, conducted last year and energy, the challenges for risk managers are around
released this year, saw cyber come out on top in every trying to figure out more specifically what ESG and
3 ECONOMIC member country apart from Japan and China, both of sustainability mean for the organisations they represent.”
SLOWDOWN/ which selected natural catastrophes. According to Singapore-based Wu, governance issues
SLOW Risk experts do not expect the cyber threat to have also arisen around sustainability. “We are starting
RECOVERY dissipate any time soon. As more organisations to explore with partners and members the governance
transition to working from home, responsibilities and risks for board members and
4 COMMODITY introducing directors when it comes to sustainability in the region,
PRICE RISK/ flexible which again is a fairly new concept,” he says.
SCARCITY OF working With sustainability poised to become one of the key
MATERIALS issues facing corporate risk managers in Asia, Tunstall
arrangements, companies believes executives need to closely monitor their
5 DAMAGE TO will become more operations for sustainability risks. “The biggest thing is
REPUTATION/ vulnerable to cyber just collecting and managing all of those stakeholders,
BRAND attacks. Hackers are on the watching where the potential gaps are going to open
look-out for weak defences up, and making sure the wheels don’t fall off.”
6 REGULATORY/ and are ready to exploit them. Tunstall says corporates risk overlooking aspects
LEGISLATIVE arima general secretary Steve Tunstall says cyber of sustainability compliance due to the size of the
CHANGES remains “one of the main two risks in Asia”, “whether topic. “One of the biggest risks is that the baby goes
it’s cyber health or cyber innovation”. out with the bath water. We’ve all seen examples of big
7 PANDEMIC “Obviously, most organisations’ technology corporations who focus in one area and take their eye
RISK/HEALTH resources have been pushed close to breaking point off the ball somewhere else. Then you end up with a
CRISES due to COVID. Everybody talks about having this massive compliance breach.”
capability to let people work remotely, and we have
8 SUPPLY now seen it delivered in most organisations. What NAT CATS AND GEOPOLITICS
CHAIN OR we haven’t perhaps seen is the downsides of these With cyber and sustainability dominating the minds
DISTRIBUTION systems that couldn’t cope, and the resulting data loss of corporate risk managers across Asia, consistent
FAILURE and breaches. How that plays out in the long term is threats, such as weather, also remain top risk factors
anybody’s guess.” in 2022. The regional insurance sector continues to
9 INCREASING A fragmented regulatory landscape around cyber evolve, with parametric insurance used widely in the
COMPETITION and data protection could mean we don’t see the true recent Typhoon Rai catastrophe in December 2021.
impact of WFH data breaches for a while yet. Alongside natural catastrophes, companies
10 FAILURE TO “In Asia, there is now a fairly robust regulatory continue to worry about supply chain and security
INNOVATE/ framework in most jurisdictions around declaring issues, and the risk of contagion from Russia’s war
MEET cyber breaches,” Tunstall says. “But I think the actual on Ukraine. “The situation in Ukraine is raising the
CUSTOMER implementation and enforcement of that is still patchy spectre of political/security concerns,” Wu says.
NEEDS in many places. I suspect there are issues under the “Though for Asia, this is probably filtered through the
surface, or issues that haven’t been identified yet.” lens of knock-on supply chain impact for now.” SR

www.strategic-risk-global.com < 2022 AIRMIC EDITION StrategicRISK 17


FUTURE OF BUSINESS >

Flood through a new lens


Floods dominated natural perils in 2022, claims handling process, ensuring those affected
receive prompt pay-outs allowing them to get back on
triggering multiple interconnected risks. Can their feet as quickly as possible.
“Liquidity management after catastrophic events
space radars give us the insight needed to is essential because, for instance, your utilities may go
down, you may be faced with clean-up costs or have
handle claims quickly and accurately? to rent a new building,” notes Marco Adamo, structurer
at Innovative Risk Solutions, EMEA, Swiss Re Corporate
Solutions. “On average, parametric solutions pay out

L
within 1 to 30 days following a notification, so that
osses from flood continued on the upward liquidity immediately arrives when it is needed.”
trend globally in 2021, with Swiss Re sigma With parametrics, pay-outs also do not have to rely
records showing that flood is the most on physical damage as a trigger. Through its FLOW
frequently occurring natural peril. In the solution, for instance, Corporate Solutions was able
past decade, there were three times as to structure a business interruption solution based
major flood events as tropical cyclones. around the readings of river gauges in Central Europe.
Major floods in Germany and China were among The product pays out when water levels go too low
the events that drove total economic catastrophe or high for barges and other vessels to safely access the
losses of 2 0 billion for the year. The uly floods in waterways upon which they trade. When this happens,
Europe were the costliest natural disaster on record for the insured receives a pay-out for the disruption or
the region, causing over 0 billion of economic losses extra expenses that are likely to be sustained.

40bn
(around 13 billion of which were insured). It is not just about risk transfer. Access
Given the scale of the devastation last year and to more granular hazard information
more recently along Australia’s east coast, there is an
argument that flood risk should no longer be considered
$ has an essential risk mitigation role,
particularly as climate change continues
Economic loss from
as a secondary peril. This is because the risks and the July 2021 floods to influence weather extremes.
impacts of secondary perils are not as well monitored or across Europe “It’s important for the risk manager not
modelled as peak perils, such as windstorm.
In a highly interconnected world, the impact of a
major flood can be felt both directly and indirectly. “If
an entire geographic area is inaccessible, this causes
a lot of additional costs,” says an Bachmann, head
of Innovative Risk Solutions at Swiss Re Corporate
Solutions. “So it’s not just about the physical damage but
also the supply chain and business interruption aspects.”

NEXT-LEVEL FLOOD MONITORING DATA


Insurers can help address the critical vulnerability
presented by flood risk by increasing the focus on
secondary perils and developing tailored solutions
designed to shield business and society. With floods
affecting nearly a third of the global population, and
a sizeable protection gap, there is an urgent need to
make use of emerging technology and data.
Corporate Solutions is collaborating with satellite
company ICE E, which uses space radar technology
to offer near real-time flood observations. Insights can
show how events unfold with an accuracy not previously
been possible for a highly dynamic peril such as flood.
This opens up the possibility for parametric covers
based on flooded areas or critical sites impacted, for
instance, as well as providing insights that can be
used by corporate risk managers to improve the flood
resilience. Access to detailed loss data in the immediate
aftermath of a flood can significantly improve the
In partnership with

only to consider their current exposure, but also the “The attention should go far beyond an organisation’s
exposure they might have in 30 years’ time and to think individual premises to consider egress or ingress
about how the frequency and severity of events is problems, perhaps there is a bridge nearby, and or
actually increasing,” says Adamo. bottlenecks from critical suppliers or critical customers.
“ hysical climate risk assessment enables All this data needs to be captured and analysed, so you
companies to understand the effects of climate can make sense of the insights on offer.” SR
change on their physical portfolios now, as well as
in the near, mid or long term. Swiss Re’s Climate Risk Jan Bachmann is head of Innovative Risk Solutions and
Solutions considers the exposure, not only to flood, Marco Adamo is structurer at Innovative Risk Solutions,
but other natural hazards over time as well.” EMEA, at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.

A changing casualty market


Casualty markets are hotting up, thanks to two global trends. One is
economic inflation, which is increasing insurance prices across all sectors.
The other is social inflation. Time to adapt and enhance our offering.

T
he casualty insurance market is A key pillar of the investment strategy was to grow
complicated. Businesses are seeing the team of underwriters. “We have done our research
significant changes to their operations and and made sure that we’ve approached talent that is
supply chains driven by the pandemic, very aligned to our strategy. Our expanded team is now
political unrest and economic instability. in place and ready to work to shape the business and
Insurers are facing challenges underwriting make sure we’re proactively meeting customer needs.”
changing businesses, high inflation and reacting to an The fact that the cost of damages is increasing in
increasing litigious and socially aware world. many regions poses another challenge. Corporate
Against this backdrop, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Solutions is particularly keen to help customers manage
is investing in expanding its existing UK market their exposures through risk engineering. This includes
presence. The insurer sees an opportunity to bring a examining how clients are dealing with workplace issues
differentiated proposition, under-pinned by award- around health and safety, and how its claims service can “WHETHER IT’S
winning technology, high-quality talent, proprietary help manage cost settlements claims inflation. CHANGES IN
trendspotting and market-leading risk management. “We want to work with customers who believe in a LEGISLATION ON
ennifer Wingate-Whyte, head of Casualty & Fin ro culture of risk management, who want to improve their ACCESS TO JUSTICE
UK at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions said “The world has own risk, and who need the benefit of our international OR ESG CONCERNS,
become more aware of its impact on society and that program platform. It’s not about just being a commodity WE KEEP AN EYE ON
is why casualty insurance is needed. It allows us to help purchase, it’s a true risk partnership arrangement.” FUTURE TRENDS
our customers manage the interactions they have with Top priorities include providing real-time transparency AND WE’LL MAKE
their employees and clients and that’s why it matters.” via Corporate Solutions proprietary international SURE THAT WE GIVE
In response to growing demand from brokers and program system, ulse, ensuring that all programmes
CLIENTS ACCESS TO
risk managers, Corporate Solutions is enhancing its are compliant and issued on time. The insurer wants to
THE SAME LEVEL
Casualty offering, starting with significant investment in work with businesses that are keen to understand their
the UK. The strategy is designed to take the company’s exposures and find ways to mitigate them. OF DETAIL THAT
international programme business to the next level, Wingate-Whyte concludes “Whether it’s changes in WE’RE SEEING.”
building on the robust foundation achieved in their legislation such as access to justice or ESG concerns, Head of Casualty &
roperty line of business. we scrutinise future trends and we’ll make sure that FinPro UK, Swiss Re
Wingate-Whyte explains “Through a combination of we give clients access to the same level of detail that Corporate Solutions
Jennifer Wingate-Whyte
the platform that we offer under international programs, we’re seeing. In combination with an experienced and
our claims and risk engineering advice and the services talented team at Corporate Solutions in the UK, we are
we offer, we believe there is a space for us in the middle excited to discuss our plans for casualty with customers
market for casualty, and our customers and brokers are and brokers at Airmic.” SR
excited about us being able to deliver. We don’t want to
be the biggest, but rather the best at service delivery in Jennifer Wingate-Whyte is head of Casualty &
an area where our clients have limited choice.” FinPro UK at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 19


INSURANCE > D&O

D&O: the search for shelter


ESG, insolvency, cyber fears, emboldened regulators and now
international sanctions – corporate directors have never been more
exposed. But is it possible to find adequate protection?

20 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


A
s the COVID-19 pandemic enters its COVID-related,” she says. “However, Beazley’s latest
third year, directors and officers (D&Os) Risk & Resilience Report found that the key boardroom
across the globe remain vulnerable risks for 2022 also include supply chain risk and the
to an ever-growing range of risks. reputational risks that arise from social inflation and
Environmental, social and governance employment. It is important that boards focus on these
(ESG) factors, COVID-related liabilities, issues, too, even if they are less top of mind at present.”
insolvencies, cyber attacks and the long arm of the Amid ongoing global supply chain constraints,
regulator continue to put company board members directors need to assess their risk exposure, Greenwood
and decision-makers in the firing line. Now, on top of all says. “Large companies should be leveraging their size
that, they must ensure their value chains are compliant to engage multiple sources of supply wherever possible,
with the growing raft of sanctions against Russia. and all businesses should be planning stock resourcing
Across the globe, risks are greater than ever, and so that they soften the impact of any disruption.”
new ones are emerging. In this uncertain environment, With supply chain issues hitting every sector, boards
corporate risk managers are under pressure to need to be mindful of potential investor litigation, she
manage the evolving risk landscape and protect their “THERE IS A adds. “There is also a reputational issue at play here.
organisations from company level and director-level REPUTATIONAL Companies need to consider how they communicate
liabilities. Strong governance and risk transfer will ISSUE AT PLAY supply chain issues to shareholders. If supply chain
remain vital layers of protection. HERE. IF SUPPLY issues are affecting profits, it’s vital to be able to explain
As the 2021 Willis Towers Watson Liability Survey CHAIN ISSUES clearly what’s happening and what is being done about
Report outlined, COVID-19 has had a considerable ARE AFFECTING it. Boards that fail to do this adequately face risks to
impact on the scope of D&O risks. Working from home PROFITS, IT’S their share prices, damage to their reputation, and
and subsequent cyber threat were cited as a future driver VITAL TO BE ultimately the danger of shareholder litigation.”
of D&O risks, with more organisations implementing Boardroom exposure to employment risk also
ABLE TO EXPLAIN
flexible working arrangements after the pandemic’s peak. looms large, Greenwood says, with social changes
CLEARLY WHAT’S
making workers more likely to speak out if they
AS THE WORLD OPENS UP HAPPENING AND feel they’ve been wronged, and to “litigate for
The survey’s leading risks were, once again, cyber WHAT IS BEING compensation”. Amid that threat, “employment risk
attack and data loss. Insolvencies did not feature as a DONE ABOUT IT.” needs to be a significant point of focus within the
top-five risk in the WTW 2021 survey, but this exposure Global head of cyber and boardroom”, she adds.
is expected to increase as the economic fallout of executive risk, Beazley “Directors and officers need to lead from the front
the pandemic hits home. Global stimulus is being Bethany Greenwood to drive a culture of equality. Chief people officers
removed, and nations are attempting to move beyond are increasingly common, and it can be very valuable
supportive monetary policy and emergency COVID to have someone in the C-suite driving the correct
measures – meaning that more companies will fail. cultures,” Greenwood says. “Boardroom risk is high
Compared to the last year’s survey, more respondents around both physical supply chains and employee
considered insolvency, bankruptcy or corporate collapse rights. Corporate insurance buyers need to be clear
as “a very or extremely significant risk”. However, it did on what their own patterns of risk are in order to take
not make the top five in the regions surveyed. appropriate steps to address both issues.”
In England and Wales, new laws, including the “For example, clients may require more granular
Pensions Act 2021, have heightened the risk threshold study of their insurance policies, so that they can be
for directors and officers. The law puts D&Os on the sure they have mitigated rising boardroom risks. This
hook for greater personal penalties for breaches of is something that brokers need to be prepared for, so
pensions regulations, following a series of scandals in that they can work with clients on ensuring that they
recent times. UK regulators and those further afield have are adequately covered.”
shown a greater willingness to prosecute corporations
and directors. NAVIGATING THE HARD MARKET
Cyber extortion was a new risk, added to the With so many D&O threats out there, how effective
survey for the first time this year. “It is notable that it is risk transfer in protecting companies and their
immediately made its way into the number 3 spot,” a directors? The continuing hard market means that
WTW spokesperson says.
Return to work, COVID safety and vaccination status
(as a risk separate from health and safety) ranked fourth
for North America but did not make the top five for any
other region. Health and safety generally did fall within TOP FIVE RISKS FACED BY D&Os
Source: Willis Towers Watson

the top five for Europe, Britain and Australasia, however.


Surprisingly, climate change was not listed as a
top-five risk in any region. But it was cited as the sixth 1 CYBER ATTACKS 4 REGULATORY RISKS
ranked risk in Britain, Asia and Australia.
Bethany Greenwood, global head of cyber and 2 DATA LOSS 5 HEALTH & SAFETY
executive risk at insurance group Beazley, says D&O risks
are trending towards three main issues. “The current
buzz words around D&O are very much ESG, cyber and
3 CYBER EXTORTION
AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL
PROSECUTION

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 21


INSURANCE > D&O

their auditors the need for balance sheet adjustments


to reflect the impact of COVID,” Traill adds.
From London to Australia, risk and insurance
professionals recognise the need to build robust risk
management frameworks to cope with the growing
threats. It is no longer enough to simply follow the
capacity remain constricted and terms and conditions principles of an effective corporate governance
considerably tightened. In some jurisdictions, Side framework. Directors must document each and every
C cover remains nigh-on impossible to secure and decision, and ensure these are backed by the most
insurance buyers have voiced their frustration over the accurate information available at the time.
renewal process. “From a legal perspective, documents and
Alex Traill, a partner at insurance specialist law witnesses are the two key ingredients to defending
firm BLM, says that while D&O insurance is a cases, demonstrating risk assessment planning,
well-established risk mitigation tool, the fact that training and consultation,” says Traill.
emerging risks are growing is also leaving directors “Accessing and using appropriate professional
more exposed. advice, be that legal, financial or insurance, is key to
“For example, claims related to the pandemic managing new and evolving D&O risk. The more D&Os “FIRMS ARE NOW
include those arising from pre-lockdown activities surround themselves with professional expertise and ALSO SEEING
but also how the company reacted to lockdown follow the advice received in a logical fashion, the CLAIMS FROM
difficulties and trading,” he says. “Firms are now also better protection they will have, and the greater the SHAREHOLDERS
seeing claims relating to the post-lockdown actions sympathy a court will have for them.” WHO ARE
of D&Os from shareholders who are questioning Eamonn Cunningham, president of the Risk QUESTIONING HOW
how transparent their boards were in disclosing the and Insurance Management Society of Australasia TRANSPARENT
financial effect of the virus on their businesses.” (RIMS Australia), says companies need to have the THEIR BOARDS
The risk areas that come under the umbrella confidence that there is a soundly based enterprise WERE IN
banner of ESG matters also pose a growing threat to risk management (ERM) framework in place within the
DISCLOSING
D&Os and, by default, their organisations. Risks in organisation, and that it is operating as intended.
those areas are growing as regulatory pressures and “Questions need to be asked, and checks need THE FINANCIAL
responsibilities build. to be undertaken, to ensure that this vital part of the EFFECT OF THE
“We shouldn’t overlook the growing exposure operation works properly,” he says. “Everything today VIRUS ON THEIR
of D&Os to environmental, social and corporate is moving at a rapid pace. Therefore, boards and risk BUSINESSES.”
governance matters,” says Traill. “Senior management managers need to be nimble in their thinking and Partner, BLM
is under increasing pressure both internally and from able to act early and decisively when required. There Alex Traill
clients, and they also need to ensure they are meeting needs to be a well-developed mechanism for horizon
regulatory standards.” scanning and reporting the results of this quickly into
the boardroom.”
NEXT-LEVEL GOVERNANCE The Australian-based executive tells risk managers to
However, Traill believes companies can take proactive engage closely with their D&Os and insurance brokers to
steps to deal with the evolving risk landscape and spot emerging threats as they come down the line.
protect themselves. “From a governance perspective, “Introduce a mechanism where workshops
they [directors and officers] should regularly review are carried out with relevant executives and your
the financial strength of their business and how that insurance brokers to ensure that you have a really
financial strength has been affected by the pandemic. good idea of the risks you face today and in the near
Boards need to appreciate that it is important to be term. Stress test the output of these workshops to
transparent with stakeholders.” ensure that they are relevant and effective.”
“This is particularly pertinent for publicly listed “And ensure those risks are addressed by a
companies’ statutory obligations of financial combination of risk management controls and the
disclosure. If needs be, companies should discuss with purchase of adequate, fit-for-purpose insurance.” SR

22 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


SPECIAL
SPECIAL REPORT
REPORT > >
CLIMATE CHANGE
INTANGIBLE RISKS

Get a grip on intangibles


The pandemic has focused our
attention on intangible risks as
business models pivoted. But
getting a firm grasp of the data
remains a serious challenge.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SPECIAL REPORT > INTANGIBLE RISKS

90%
of the value of
S&P 500 companies are

T
now made up of
intangible
he increasing intangible nature of the consisted of Riskonnect CEO Jim assets
risk landscape is nothing new, and Wetekamp, group insurance manager
yet many of the exposures facing at Next Group PLC Martin Smyth and risk
businesses today remain misunderstood consultant Mark Boult.
and poorly served by traditional Latest studies show that intangible assets
insurance products. make up over 90% of S&P 500 companies, up from
On 22 February, StrategicRISK hosted a webinar just 17% in 1975. With the pandemic seeing a
‘Evolution of risk – from the tangible to the intangible’ further shift in business models, with organisations
to discuss some of these challenges. Chaired by divesting of business premises, moving systems to
StrategicRISK editor Helen Yates, our expert panel the cloud and repurposing supply chains, the trend

24 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


In partnership with

digital infrastructure, intellectual property and


talent, brand and reputation, and corporate culture,
among other things. As organisations shift further
towards hybrid working patterns and become ever
more digitised, our experts considered how risk
professionals can better measure, manage and
mitigate intangible risks?

A MANAGER FOR EVERY RISK


The discussion began with a look back at how the
COVID crisis had elevated attention to intangible
exposures and highlighted the need for resilience in an
increasingly uncertain and volatile risk environment.
“What has changed is an appreciation that risk
is distributed across the business,” said Smyth.
“Everybody in the business is a risk manager of some
sort, even if they don’t see themselves that way.”
Wetekamp noted that different stakeholders
were being brought into the risk management
process than may have been in the past. This includes
HR, legal and marketing teams where risks involving “WHAT HAS
people, intellectual property and brand are concerned, CHANGED IS AN
for instance. APPRECIATION
“The business continuity and operational resilience THAT RISK IS
point is something that has risen to the top in the DISTRIBUTED
discussion [on the importance of risk management] and ACROSS THE
it is impacting the way we work. Linking to the intangible BUSINESS.
asset aspect, it has brought new stakeholders into the EVERYBODY IN
risk management process that you didn’t have before or
THE BUSINESS IS A
that you have to engage in a different way.”
RISK MANAGER OF
“ ou’ve got to make sure you have a defined risk
owner for each one of the intangible assets or areas SOME SORT.”
of risk,” he said. “This will create discussion internally Group insurance manager,
around how those things come together from a Next Group PLC
Martin Smyth
scenario standpoint.”
As organisations become more reliant on digital
ecosystems, with the pandemic driving a further
shift from server-based systems to cloud-hosted
architecture, it is essential for risk teams to have a
direct line into the CIO and IT function. Panellists
acknowledged there is no turning back and that it
was imperative to keep abreast of new and emerging
vulnerabilities as threats, including ransomware and
supply chain attacks, continue to evolve.
A question was raised about cloud concentration
and how this introduced the potential for risk
aggregations.
“Aren’t we there already?” asked Wetekamp. “If
you’re worried about how much of our critical business
operations, data and processes are being consolidated
in the digital experience, I would argue we’re over
that threshold now. There are four or five systems or
has further accelerated over the past two years. platforms that if they had a material interruption (and
“It is important not to be left behind in a world Twitter is not down) we know it about it within seconds.
where an increasing proportion of business value is That has massive impacts on commerce, the flow of
made up of intangible assets,” warned Bout. “If you data, procurement and supply chains.”
are behind the curve, you aren’t going to be managing “It is less about whether that is going to emerge
your risks as well, and therefore things will go wrong as a risk and more about, what are some of the
and damage your brand value.” strategies we’re going to employ a little bit differently.
The webinar considered the value of intangible Coming out of COVID, we still have very traditional
assets and how changing priorities during the procurement practices. Should we think about
COVID crisis have seen a growing appreciation for alternative vendors and distributing our relationships a

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 25


SPECIAL REPORT > INTANGIBLE RISKS

bit more? Traditional risk mitigation around in the charts of this year’s World Economic Forum’s
supply chain and getting our product out the door apply Global Risk Report, published in January 2022
in this context.” (www.weforum.org/reports/global-risks-report-2022/
data-on-global-risks-perceptions#report-nav). Yet, at
MOTIVATIONS FOR ESG the time of writing, even that feels out of date.
Inevitably, ESG-related risks formed a significant Speaking as the Ukraine crisis was unfolding,
part of the discussion, given how attention to Smyth noted that ahead of the pandemic, Black
environmental, social and governance factors has Swan-type events had, in many instances, been
elevated the importance of intangible assets, consigned to the history books. Now corporates are
including people, IP and the natural world. Doing carrying out more scenario analysis to consider the “IS IT REALLY TRUE
the right thing – and being seen to do the right thing impact of other potential shocks, however unlikely WE DON’T KNOW
in a world where stakeholder capitalism is becoming they may at first appear. HOW TO VALUE
the norm – is also intrinsically connected to brand “It is important to take an open-minded approach OUR INTANGIBLE
value and reputation. to these risks. We’ve all been in meetings where ASSETS? THERE
As investors, regulators and other stakeholders someone has discarded what could be a valid ARE SOME
ramp up their expectations on the ESG front, scenario or approach just because they didn’t QUANTIFICATIONS
including new reporting requirements, organisations believe it could happen in that way. And that’s YOU CAN DO IN
are under growing scrutiny. The climate scenario quite a dangerous narrative to have within the ERM
THIS AREA THAT
testing requirements under climate frameworks framework.”
ARE REALLY
such as TCFD do present a role for the insurance Events that lie outside of “living memory” are the
industry, thought Smyth. “Brokers, carriers and ones that can blindside. “Global pandemics seem to PHYSICAL AND
other service providers have got a wealth of happen about once every 100 years, and we should SPECIFIC.”
knowledge in being able to quantify what that risk know to expect this,” said Boult. ”Other scenarios will CEO, Riskonnect
looks like to the business, which in some cases can happen on some sort of regularity. You need to look Jim Wetekamp
be intangible.” at the future and think about a range of different types
“Going through these types of exercises, you begin of impact, how you manage similar types of risks and
to see how ESG as a risk of a business is made up of a build in resilience.”
lot of component risks – some of which are physical,
but many of which are not,” he continued. “It’s great OUT OF REACH?
to be able to quantify it, but I don’t think at this time The esoteric nature of intangible risks inevitably
much of it is transferable outside of the physical world makes them difficult to measure and quantify. But
and that’s somewhat concerning.” there are ways of overcoming these challenges. “One
The broad nature of risks and opportunities that fall of the really good exercises is to look at events that
under the banner of ESG is a challenge in and of itself. have happened and see where they fit into your risk
Organisations are having to think about the impacts universe, where the tolerances were and were they
they have as a business and their responsibilities to the material,” said Smyth.
world around them in a completely different way than Wetekamp pointed to the financial services and
ever before. And there is no room from greenwashing healthcare sectors as examples of industries that are
or clever marketing tricks. pioneering approaches to generating data around
“ESG is making you think about the whole life cycle intangibles risk. “These two markets are the canary
of a product – the whole beginning to end of your in the coal mine in terms of what other organisations
supply chain of an extended enterprise. Although you will try to do around more effectively managing risk,”
can control things that you physically manage or do he said.
yourself, and that gives you some intangible value, it “Is it really true we don’t know how to value
can be degraded by something happening upstream or our intangible assets?” he asked. “There are some
downstream in the process,” Smyth said. quantifications you can do in this area that are
“That’s not necessarily going to be a physical thing really physical and specific, around our operational
– it could be related to diversity, pollution, ethics. All resilience and even how we source and procure and
those things may impact your intangible value and what third parties we work with. All of those things are
then people stop buying from you,” he continued. really trackable.”
“The risk manager has to look over the much bigger “For a long time, organisations have measured
picture and think not just about the financial impact, and understood consumer sentiment and acted
but also how society and other stakeholders will view and behaved accordingly to protect their brand and
what you’re doing.” grow their business. Employee sentiment surveys
record what makes people happy, excited and
PREPARING FOR THE NEXT SHOCK mission-driven.”
The pandemic once again highlighted the “It’s the investor sentiment – how it impacts ESG
interconnected nature of risk in the world we live in, investing, stock price and future performance – that is
with COVID-19 and country lockdowns exacerbating now making the gamble on this highly unpredictable,”
a broad range of business risks, including supply added Wetekamp. “It’s a future benefit that we can’t
chain disruptions and cyber vulnerabilities. The sheer quantify that has changed the way we talk about ESG
complexity of this risk landscape was brought to life and intangible risks today.” SR

26 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


In partnership with

Do you know your value chain?


How well you respond to geopolitical risks depends on both your own
decisions and those of third parties. So how do you monitor behaviour and
standards across your value chain, asks Riskonnect’s Jim Wetekamp.

I
ntangible risks, like geopolitical risks, can have a
deep impact on business. Immigration and travel
restrictions can limit availability of talent and
key skill sets. Slow response to social issues or
the suspicious activities of third parties overseas
could lead to reputational consequences. Trade
conflicts, tariffs, and sanctions threaten supply-chain
performance. Recessions, inflation, and economic
uncertainty can slow revenue growth.
Each of these situations can have a severe impact on “ONLY ENGAGE
an organisation. Together, however, the impact could WITH TRUSTED
be devastating for those that haven’t properly prepared. VENDORS THAT
An organisation’s resilience to geopolitical risks MEET YOUR
heavily depends on third parties. One poor decision by STANDARDS AND
a vendor can poke holes in the defences you’ve worked UPHOLD YOUR
hard to build. Do your due diligence before the contract VALUES.”
is signed to ensure you only engage with trusted vendors
that meet your standards and uphold your values. CEO, Riskonnect
Jim Wetekamp
And make sure you’re not associating with any
vendors that may cause harm to the company,
including involvement in malicious activity, terrorist
groups, or other risky behaviours. Verify with detailed
questionnaires that your third parties do, in fact,
operate as claimed.
respond quickly requires facts – not gut feelings or
THE NEED FOR INSIGHT-LED DECISIONS educated guesses. One overlooked threat – minor as it
Confident, fast decision-making can minimise may appear –could trigger a series of events that add
geopolitical disruption. And your ability to up to catastrophe.
Technology is instrumental in creating a complete
and contextual view of an organisation’s risk
environment. The right software centralises risk data
from across the organisation, connects the dots
between risks, and makes the information actionable.
You’ll have a clear view of how one risk could ripple
through multiple areas – e.g., reputation, competitive
position, strategic growth – and what you need to do
to prepare.
We’ve all learned a lesson over these past couple
of years about the perils of disregarding even the
most unlikely scenarios. No one wants to be caught
off guard by an unanticipated geopolitical risk. What
can you do now to strengthen your infrastructure to
withstand a new wave of threats? Because that next
event may be already be on its way. SR

Jim Wetekamp is CEO of Riskonnect.

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 27


In partnership with

Ukraine reawakens
business to the importance
of political risk
The conflict calls for a strategic re-evaluation of footprints,
supply chains, relationships, company cultures, business
functions and risk appetite, explains Control Risks’ Claudine Fry.

T
he catastrophic events in Ukraine have For some businesses, there will need to be a
shattered such assumptions, and left strategic re-evaluation of footprints, supply
businesses no option but to respond chains, relationships, company cultures, business
quickly and decisively. While the immense functions and risk appetite to ensure resilience
human suffering is front of mind, the impact in a world profoundly changed by the Ukraine
of the conflict in Ukraine on business has been deep conflagration.
and wide. There have been almost-immediate impacts Organisations are operating in a world reawakened
on the safety of people, the resilience of supply chains, to the significance of understanding and managing
sanctions risk exposure and the operational costs political risk. What is more, businesses are being
associated with rising commodity prices. “BUSINESSES ARE held to account for positions they are taking in
Countless companies have had to cease or suspend BEING HELD TO response to political risk events more than ever before.
operations in Russia, the 11th largest economy in the ACCOUNT FOR The rush of Western companies fleeing Russia is
world. Businesses are also trying to understand the THEIR RESPONSE testament to this trend.
impact of these events beyond the immediate term as TO POLITICAL RISK Adopting a position on a geopolitical risk issue can
it is clear their legacy will be lasting. EVENTS. THE RUSH be complex and consequential in ways that may not
No sector will go untouched. No part of the world OF COMPANIES be immediately well-understood. It requires careful
will escape the effects, be they rocketing prices for FLEEING RUSSIA consideration, particularly for global companies doing
food and oil; pressures on services and politics caused business in an increasingly polarised and hostile
IS TESTAMENT TO
by migration changed inflows and asset seizures international environment. SR
THIS TREND.”
influenced by sanctions or a change in access to
resources or influence. Principal, Control Risks Claudine Fry is principal at Control Risks.
Claudine Fry
WIDESPREAD RISK IMPLICATIONS
The pace of developments will slow, but watch for
things that may suddenly change the pace. Europe will
be living with active conflict of some kind on its soil
long-term. The status of Ukraine will remain contested
and the security situation in and around Ukraine will
be hostile. Key relationships between impacted states
will remain belligerent, combative and militaristic.
Beyond the immediate neighbourhood of Ukraine,
societies and businesses have only just begun to feel
the implications of this crisis. These implications will
manifest in higher political risk, everywhere.
The succession of events such as Brexit, the
election Donald Trump as US President, the pandemic,
and now Ukraine, make it clear that political risk
events typically seen as low likelihood but high impact
demand closer attention by the board, and more
engagement beyond the board, too.
www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 29
SPECIAL REPORT > INTANGIBLE RISKS

Cyber and reputation:


your top intangible fears
Cancel culture and cyber intrusions can ‘kill’, and survey respondents
know this. Many anticipate more red tape as regulators seek to get a
handle on these ever-growing emerging risks.

30 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


In partnership with

WHAT INTANGIBLE RISKS/EXPOSURES ARE OF MOST CONCERN


TO YOUR ORGANISATION? (CHOOSE UP TO THREE)

CYBER 86%
REPUTATION 64%
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 43%
REGULATION 43% “OVER THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS, WE
NON-DAMAGE BUSINESS INTERRUPTION 36% WILL SEE NEW
TYPES OF RISKS.

ESG 36% MY GUESS IS THAT


THE EMERGENCE
OF BLOCKCHAIN
ECONOMIC 29% TECHNOLOGY MAY
BE DRIVING THIS,
CLIMATE TRANSITION
14% BUT IT COULD
BE SOMETHING
COMPLETELY
PRODUCT RECALL
7% DIFFERENT.”

OTHER
7% $ 600m
Cost to businesses of
Founder, AKTUS
Hans Læssøe

the top ten cyber

E
intrusions in 2021

ighty-six percent of risk managers are wary of how suddenly


respondents said cyber hard won reputations can be lost.
was the intangible risk of most
concern to their organisation in REAL THREAT OF CANCEL CULTURE
2022. This is according to a survey AKTUS founder and former LEGO Group chief risk
of risk professionals carried out by officer Hans L ss e is not surprised that reputation
StrategicRISK in February. ranks so highly among the list of concerns.
It was followed by reputation in second place As he explains, a dented reputation may ‘kill’
(64%) and intellectual property and regulation in the organisation and is complicated for the
joint third position (43%) and non-damage business following reasons:
interruption (NDBI) and ESG in joint fourth (36%). • A risk may materialise due to change of consumer
Fifteen percent of respondents said they had suffered perceptions (think of the #MeToo movement)
a major loss over the last 12 months relating to an rather than due to change of behaviour.
intangible risk. • A risk may materialise based on some untrue
The impact of cyber attacks on organisations – accusations made by someone who is ‘out to
including costs relating to network disruption – are get you’. “I had an example of that while at the
clearly front of mind when it comes to intangible LEGO Group, where activists were trying to
exposures. influence a partner company to change behaviour
And it is not difficult to see why. The top ten and (unsuccessfully) leveraged the LEGO Group as
intrusions in 2021 costs companies over $600m, resulted a means to the end,” says L ss e.
in the loss of tens of millions of sensitive data records • A risk may materialise based on the bad behaviour
and shut down one back for over a week, according to of one ‘rogue’ person/executive or person you
research by Tokio Marine HCC International. relate to (think Spotify right now).
As for reputation, one does not have to look much • A risk may materialise while adhering to legislative
further than current newspaper headlines to see why controls, which appear to be inefficient or

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 31


SPECIAL REPORT > INTANGIBLE RISKS

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION SUFFERED A HOW WILL CONCERNS OVER THE SYSTEMIC NATURE OF

� �
MAJOR LOSS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS INTANGIBLE RISKS IMPACT REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
RELATED TO AN INTANGIBLE RISK? GOING FORWARD?

85%
REGULATION WILL STAY THE SAME
YES

85%
REGULATION WILL INCREASE

15%

NO
15% REGULATION WILL DECREASE
0%

inadequate (for example, money laundering • International top story. Massive social media
through a bank). ‘outrage’ for weeks and weeks on end.”

Respondents acknowledged the global pandemic The vast majority of respondents (85%) thought the
had exacerbated some of the intangible risks faced systemic nature of intangible risks would impact
by their organisation. This includes exposures regulatory requirements going forward. As ESG grows
relating to new, hybrid ways of working and the “MORE TYPES in importance and supervisors address the systemic
direct and indirect business interruption resulting OF RISKS WILL nature of cyber and pandemic-related risks, more
from company lockdowns. EMERGE AND rules and requirements appear likely.
THE COMPLEXITY Fifteen percent thought the level of regulation
CREATING A SCALE WILL INCREASE would stay roughly the same, but nobody thought
According to L ss e, however, pandemic is a tangible AS COMPANIES, oversight would reduce any time soon.
risk that materialised, and one that companies should SUPPLY CHAINS,
have been prepared for. BUSINESSES AND IT’S ONLY GETTING MORE COMPLEX
Many are taking steps to better measure and PROCESSES GETS As for the future, respondents said firms must get
manage their intangible exposures going forward, better at anticipating emerging intangible risks and
INTERTWINED
particularly in the absence of traditional insurance integrating these into their strategic risk management
solutions.
AND AUTOMATED frameworks.
In order to manage the risk, you first must be able – ALL LEADING “More types of risks will emerge and the complexity
to measure it. But with intangibles, other metrics are TO REDUCED will increase as companies, supply chains, businesses
often needed. “The key challenge is to rate scale it,” TRANSPARENCY.” and processes gets intertwined and automated – all
says L ss e. “Let us take reputation for one, and Founder, AKTUS leading to reduced transparency,” says L ss e.
apply a 1–5 level scale: Hans Læssøe “Suddenly, the butterfly effect’ may come very much
• Local press and public attention for less than into play in business. For example, there is currently a
one week. Very limited social media attention. shortage of specific materials, which in turn creates a
• Nationwide press attention for less than one shortage of computer chips being manufactured, which
week and/or local attention for two to three stalls the sale of new cars. If I were a car manufacturer,
weeks. One to two weeks of some social media I may not consider the shortage of chip materials as
attention. being a risk to my ability to sell cars – but it is.”
• International press attention, locally the issue “Over the next two to five years, we will probably
lingers on for months and international social see new types of risks for the first time ever some
media attention exceeds two weeks. we have never thought about,” he adds. “My guess
• International headline press attention. is that the emergence of blockchain technology and
Significant and global’ social media attention metaverses may be driving this, but it could also be
for weeks. something completely different.” SR

32 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


RISK LEADERS > DISASTER RESPONSE

Reasons to be… cheerful?


With access to some of science’s most stark heart championing open science approaches, because
the more we can get it out there, the more the data
observations on climate change, NASA’s is available, the easier it is for people to turn that into
Dr David Green could be forgiven for feeling solutions.”

somewhat pessimistic about our future. EXPERIENCING THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT


For the risk community (and fans of the WEF Global
And yet he is anything but. Risks Report’s interconnections map), the fact that
risks are highly interlinked is nothing new. But for

O
decision-makers in both the public and private sector
ver the past two and a half years since – those responsible for making the choices that relate
the COVID-19 pandemic ripped across to society’s future resilience recent experience has
the globe, Dr David Green, NASA advisor “YOU CAN GET opened their eyes to butterfly effects that are inevitable
for Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience, CAUGHT UP IN in a highly connected, global world.
has seen a marked shift in how we think THE WHOLE ‘WOE From the impact of the lockdowns on global supply
about compound risks. It is this – and IS ME, THINGS chains and the influence of a changing climate on the
a confidence in the new generation that gives him ARE TERRIBLE’ frequency and severity of natural perils, through to the
confidence in mankind’s ability to tackle the major MENTALITY. BUT impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on commodity
existential risks of the future. THERE ARE A LOT prices and inflation the compound nature of risk has
“I just spent the afternoon talking to interns in their OF TOOLS AND never been more apparent, Green tells StrategicRISK.
early careers,” he says during a visit to London, having “Pre-COVID, with issues such as health, we
APPLICATIONS
spent the previous week at a wildfire summit in Italy. didn’t understand the compound effect. Initially,
“I’m incredibly enthusiastic about the next generation.
THAT PEOPLE HAVE governments thought it was just a health issue and
They do not see the barriers or the silos of the previous AVAILABLE NOW then we realised it touches on transportation and
generations and it is changing how governments are THAT WE DIDN’T logistics, social decision-making and governance,
working and how communities interact.” HAVE BEFORE.” emergency management and the distribution of
“You can get caught up in the whole ‘woe is me, materials, among other things.”
Advisor for Disaster
things are terrible’ mentality. But there are a lot of Risk Reduction & Observations from NASA satellites and models
tools and applications that people have available now Resilience, NASA are increasingly used to support decisions and
that we didn’t have before. This is why NASA takes to Dr David Green actions, to promote innovation and build capacity in

www.strategic-risk-global.com < AIRMIC 2022 EDITION StrategicRISK 33


RISK LEADERS > DISASTER RESPONSE

the use of earth science. Understanding the impact of approach, which means we
climate on natural hazard is in Green’s blood. Before need to be working with other
joining NASA in 201 , he was at the US National organisations, the private sector,
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, latterly academics, humanitarians,
as lead for emerging science and services, National philanthropists, different
Weather Service. countries and regions – which
means we interact with people from
ACTING FAST IN AN EMERGENCY around the world,” says Green.
Near real-time access to damage assessments from “Most people think of NASA as looking
severe weather events allows a far more proactive up at the universe – above and beyond – but
response than was possible before. “You might NASA, most importantly, looks at the earth, as a
read about a hurricane or storm in the media, but system we live on and how we interact with that. We
the stories are going deeper because now you use our science, our observations our satellites and our
can actually connect impacts and decisions on relationships to look at those changes.”
the ground,” explains Green. “There is much more Collaboration is essential, as is the ability to
translation and scalability of information.” communicate risk in a way that non-experts can
“You might have a factory in the UK relying on understand and leverage. This is particularly important
a supply of materials during the South East Asia when it comes to finding solutions to tackle the climate
monsoon season, for instance. In the past, the crisis, he thinks. This is one reason for his trip to London,
workforce here was not necessarily aware they were “WE MUST FIGURE to speak to insurance industry practitioners as they seek
dependent on something from the other side of the OUT HOW TO to better understand evolving catastrophe risk.
world. We’re monitoring that entire world system COLLABORATE, “We look at how hazard systems function and
now, so you can take proactive measures and source AND WE CAN interact, and sometimes they are disrupted and we can
supplies from somewhere else.” USE OUR NASA see some of those changes. The insurance industry is
“We’re bringing our earth observation approach BRAND TO BRING looking at what measures need to be put in place to
to help inform that awareness so risk managers can dissipate some of those impacts so it’s a very close
PEOPLE TOGETHER
take the appropriate actions,” he continues. “Supply alignment. We are looking at how things change and
FROM DIFFERENT
chains are now more global and so we get in there we have to work with partners to understand what the
when things happen. We’re learning all the time. DISCIPLINES, TO implications of those changes are.”
When Iceland has its next eruption, we will have the REALLY GET A “Part of our strategy is no one has one solution so we
experience we’ve learned to keep the airspace open.” HANDLE ON WHAT must figure out how to collaborate, and if nothing else,
Earth observation information can shorten the time THE NATURE we can use our NASA brand to bring people together
it takes to settle a claim and provide essential liquidity OF PERILS OR from different disciplines, to really get a handle on what
in the aftermath of a major natural catastrophe THE NATURE OF the nature of perils or the nature of impacts is.”
event. This is also where there is a role for parametric IMPACTS IS.” It is through facilitating these collaborations that
solutions. “It often takes too long to issue a claim, but we are able to further advance understanding around
we can see where a crop failure is likely to happen and Advisor for Disaster compound risk and how this could evolve over time.
Risk Reduction &
we can notify the bank, release those funds, tell the Resilience, NASA
Green is working closely with the science healthcare
Red Cross or the UN to get in there earlier.” Dr David Green communities, for instance, in an effort to better predict
NASA’s model insights also assist with longer-term how environmental changes will impact health.
planning and investments, for instance ensuring that “It’s a very practical approach. We can see changes
infrastructure rebuilding following a natural catastrophe in heat and water and we’re able to link this to
will remain resilient and sustainable in ten to 20 years’ understand where people might be vulnerable to
time. “We can shrink and compress the time of our respiratory disease or prone to water contamination.
actions, and we can see that perhaps a long-term We’re connecting the full story.”
change means we need to commit for a
longer time. That’s where we tie our BETTER UNDERSTANDING
short-term strategy to longer-term “NASA is also getting better at communicating. Talking to
investments.” the media, using tools and visualisation to help people
reach that aha’ moment for them individually. This is
CONNECT THE DOTS to ensure decision-makers don’t just receive a written
In an era of the explosion report but have better communications to actually
of data, there is no value in understand the implications of the change in risks.”
holding onto raw material, “With those communications, there is that
thinks Green. Instead, realisation that you yourself are part of the solution,
NASA’s approach is to not part of that flow of the story,” he adds. “At NASA, we
only collect and distribute think of visualisation and communication as no longer
earth observation and a separate part of the science and technology solutions
meteorological insights, but an integral part of getting the message out.” SR
but to ensure it ends up in the
right hands. Dr David Green is NASA advisor for Disaster Risk
“We take an earth systems Reduction & Resilience.

34 StrategicRISK AIRMIC 2022 EDITION > www.strategic-risk-global.com


RISK LEADERS > ESG

Just take the first step


Knowing where to start when building an ESG framework is daunting for
the most seasoned risk manager. Marsh Advisory’s Dr Beverley Adams
knows stepping out onto that path is often the hardest part, but if you
don’t assess your ESG, someone else will.

H
aving a business used to be that’s where, as Airmic, we have a deep responsibility
about profit. But we’re in a to ensure we look at every element of this.
different world today. It’s now The risk manager can’t avoid it. From an insurance “EVERY WEEK, I
about people, planet… and standpoint, insurers are beginning to ask them about HAVE BUSINESSES
profitability. It’s a world where we their ESG credentials. We came up with a saying: ‘If COMING TO US
are more focused on sustainability you don’t assess your ESG and climate risk, someone WHO HAVEN’T YET
and people, and companies can’t afford to ignore else will’. These days, you are being judged and REALLY EMBRACED
that, because their customers will start to think with scrutinised and that’s where ESG differs from CSR ESG. WE HAVE RISK
their feet. it’s the outside world looking at you. MANAGERS WHO
Getting started on ESG [environmental, social HAVE BEEN DOING
and corporate governance] is a bit like dealing with RISK MANAGERS NEEDED
IT FOR YEARS AND
other emerging risks, such as cyber. Right at the very That’s why the reputation part of it is such a concern
beginning, when we were thinking about how we and that’s borne out by this year’s Airmic survey.
RISK MANAGERS
build this into your day-to-day work, that’s where it The other reason risk managers have to be involved WHO ARE RIGHT AT
was difficult. is regulation. TCFD is now mandatory for many THE BEGINNING OF
Every week, I have businesses coming to us businesses and an entire pillar of the framework is THEIR JOURNEY.”
who haven’t yet really embraced ESG. We have risk devoted to risk management, with scenario modelling
Head of climate and
managers who have been doing it for several years among the required approaches. catastrophe resilience,
and risk managers who are right at the beginning The risk manager therefore becomes a bit of a Marsh Advisory
of their journey. My role is to work with them, focal point, because they have a lot of that knowledge Dr Beverley Adams
wherever they are on the journey, and help them already. Risk managers are practical
get up to speed. people and in their day-to-day
At Marsh we’re trying to demystify it and to role they think about risk
build it out as a six-step process. It’s about mitigation.
understanding what the risk is and then determining With ESG, mitigation
what you’re going to do about it. Once you’ve started is about change and
to get your arms around it, you can then look at your adaptation, and
wider value chain. When businesses seek to make laying that out
other businesses accountable, it naturally drives thoughtfully,
change and adaptation. bearing in mind
every company
JUDGE BEFORE YOU ARE JUDGED is on their own
We don’t have all the answers and in five years’ journey to
time ESG will be much more mature. But as net zero. SR
we’re at the start of the journey, we’ve got to lay
the right foundations. ou’ve got to start as you Dr Beverley
mean to go on. Adams is
Some people haven’t had the luxury of taking a consulting
lot of time over this, because there has been director and
pressure for things like accountability for TCFD head of climate
reporting, for instance. So some people have had to and catastrophe
go from zero to 100 miles per hour. But then they still resilience at Marsh
need to back up and look at all the ESG risks. And Advisory.
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Tapoly AON FloodFlash

Ben Howarth Phil Williams Sam White


Manager, Climate Change Chief Operating Officer CEO
and Open Data Policy Clear Group Stella Insurance
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