Ep 57 Color outside the lines: Jim Stanard, Chairman Ariel Re

As journalists we tend to sprinkle superlative terms such as
industry legend around a little too liberally. But today’s guest
definitely qualifies.


As a founder of Renaissance Re Jim Stanard helped completely
transform the way the industry analyses and underwrites
catastrophe risk and cemented Bermuda’s place in the insurance
and reinsurance world.


He also co-founded global challenger reinsurance broker Tiger
Risk.


Now he is back in his heartland as chair of the newly-independent
Ariel Re.


Here we talk about everything you would ever want to know about
how to be a successful underwriter building a sustainable
portfolio.


Listening back it is a remarkable conversation and one marked by
Jim’s extraordinary good humour and openness. We spent a lot more
time laughing than is normal in a serious hard market reinsurance
conversation.


But that is all down to Jim’s open-mindedness and remarkably
broad interests. I hadn’t met him before this meeting but it
really doesn’t show. I learned a lot, including that this
industry leader has a not unimportant side line on the music
scene.


So do enjoy the conversation.


A couple of Notes:


Jim told me later he misspoke about Lotus being the first
spreadsheet package and meant to say Visicalc.


And the quote about predicting the future is variously attributed
to Yogi Berra, Sam Goldwyn or Danish physicist Niels Bohr,
depending on who you ask.


LINKS


Jim’s album "Color outside the lines" can be streamed on Spotify
and is available on Amazon and other music sellers.


Go to: www.jimstanardmusic.com to find out more.


We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo - enabling underwriters
to increase the speed and accuracy of decision making:


https://www.advantagego.com/


We also thank Claims Direct Access (CDA) for their support today:


https://www.claimsdirectaccess.com/