At Sompo International, Rohan Dixon Is Revitalizing Workplace Chemistry and Bridging Virtual Divides

The new head of Canada operations for Sompo International is taking dead aim at communications and culture.
By: | November 13, 2023

You could side-step it, but that wouldn’t be truthful. The truth is that a global pandemic caused a mass shift to hybrid and remote work arrangements. That in turn struck a strong blow against cohesion, workplace communication, and the other vital strands that form the fabric of a work culture.

You could almost call it a workplace chemistry gut punch.

Rohan Dixon, who was appointed president and CEO, Canada, for Sompo International in January, isn’t side-stepping it.

As he gets to work implementing his vision for his role, he places near the top of his to-do list creating a successful culture.

“There are a lot of people in roles asking why they have to come into the office,” Dixon said. “We want to create an environment that people will enjoy that can create a level of expertise.”

The specialty underwriter is involved in insuring traditional energy resources, of which Canada has plenty (in addition to alternative energy), and is also preparing itself to be a risk transfer partner in property, D&O, E&O, casualty and cyber, among other risks.

Dixon said it’s a priority that the Canadian operations of Sompo be collaborative and creative, so that the underwriters that are attracted to the company get the tools and the backing to be effective risk management consultants.

To date, the 2024 Risk & Insurance Executive to Watch said indications are that executives looking to make a change are giving Sompo a good, hard look.

“You know that there is a need in the market when people are reaching out, senior people are reaching out and asking us what we’re doing that’s different,” Dixon said.

“We’re creating an environment that those people want to come to and that brings a like-minded mentality to the team. That immediately makes the cultural piece so much easier,” he said.

In his career so far, the Aon veteran said he has been the beneficiary of mentoring and has also learned valuable lessons when positions he envisioned for himself didn’t materialize.

“Then you look back and you realize that job probably wasn’t for you,” Dixon said.

Dixon also wants to make it a point that the markets, the insureds and the public at large know what sort of organization the specialty underwriter Sompo
International is.

“It goes back to connectivity and willingness to help and bring expertise to the table,” Dixon said, alluding to the importance of a cohesive workplace culture that we mentioned at the outset.

“Whether that expertise is the marketing team, the underwriting team, or the claims team, it’s almost irrelevant. The culture of Sompo that I am learning about is one of total collaboration across borders.” &


Rohan Dixon has been selected as a 2024 Risk & Insurance® Executive to Watch. To see the other executives selected this year, visit here.

Dan Reynolds is editor-in-chief of Risk & Insurance. He can be reached at [email protected].

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