Ep 46 The Best Market for a Decade: David Croom-Johnson MD Aegis London

2020-09-29

When I book an interview guest in for the show it is usually at least few weeks and often a few months in advance. When I open up my diary I can see them lined up ahead.I build up expectations in my mind about what the interview is going to be like.It never turns out the way I think. Today is a case in point. I have got to know David Croom-Johnson of Aegis London over many years while covering the global insurance market.I knew he was great company and was often outspoken in...

When I book an interview guest in for the show it is usually at least few weeks and often a few months in advance.

When I open up my diary I can see them lined up ahead.

I build up expectations in my mind about what the interview is going to be like.

It never turns out the way I think.

Today is a case in point. I have got to know David Croom-Johnson of Aegis London over many years while covering the global insurance market.

I knew he was great company and was often outspoken in private.

But I didn’t know what he would be like with the microphone turned on. I had a fear that he might be a little more tame than he is when the recorder is not switched.

Well, I needn’t have worried.

I am happy to report that the David who showed up for the interview was the exact same David that I know from all my meetings and encounters with him in and around the London market over the past decade.

He is someone who has to be true to himself in all situations.

And because he runs a consistently top-performing Lloyd’s business which is in a very select group of managing agents that Lloyd’s has allowed to be regulated on a light touch basis this makes for a fascinating and valuable interview.

The market and David’s view of what to do about Lloyd’s mediocre and major underperformers may surprise and shock you as being extraordinarily tough.

But his long experience, wisdom and foresight are what shine through in this encounter.

From how to behave in a hard market to lean underwriting models.

From the short termism of private equity to the casualty crisis and the eventual Uberisation of the specialty market, chances are David has thought about it deeply and has a strong and unequivocal view.