Consumers are increasingly interested in eating organic and understanding the path of their food. One technology making advanced supply chain tracking a reality is blockchain.

The manufacturing industry has unique cyber exposures, and this risk manager knows it’s important to stay on top of the sector’s rapidly changing use of technology. 

From traditional risks like safety and oil volatility to emerging exposures like climate change litigation, here are the top risks facing the sector today.

Michael Calhoun, Managing Director, Aon Constriction in the aerospace sector was a common theme this year. “Major carriers have left,” said one director of insurance. “We had a very difficult time this year, trying to get a renewal with 65 percent of the previous market capacity left out there. Michael was able to go to… View Article

Andy Bullock, Senior Vice President, Marsh When the owner of an oft-delayed project lost its owner-controlled insurance program, the project faced further delays and ballooned insurance costs. The owner gave Marsh’s Andy Bullock 45 days to bind $100 million of general liability limits covering all the project’s contractors and eight years of completed operations coverage… View Article

Ken Banks, Area Senior Vice President, Gallagher Ken Banks has acted as Melissa Diaz’s colleague, competitor and broker over the last 12 years. When she signed on as risk services manager for the University of San Francisco, she said the transition was easy: Banks was already the university’s insurance broker. “He does more than act… View Article

Amanda Lania, Account Manager, Beecher Carlson “We have had the privilege of watching Amanda’s career as she has truly developed as an insurance broker,” said a risk manager of Beecher Carlson’s Amanda Lania. “Recently, we were putting together — at the 11th hour, of course — an extensive request-for-proposal bid response. Amanda, without blinking, jumped… View Article

James Bennett, Vice President, Aon “In the second half of this year, we had many changes. [We] spun-off one business segment into its own public entity,” said one risk manager.“ Then, just a few weeks later, we were purchased by a major global corporation. “To meet all contractual requirements, we had to develop and obtain… View Article

Shane Hogan, Senior Vice President, Aon When you win an RFP to handle the insurance work for one of the largest insurance companies in the world, you know you’re doing something right. Aon’s Shane Hogan is doing more than a few things right. For the major insurer, he was able to lower its Total Cost… View Article

Wesley Bryan, Senior Vice President, Marsh Marsh Wortham’s Wesley Bryan doesn’t just know the insurance business, he knows the insured’s businesses. “Wesley knows our business, our philosophy and our needs intimately,” said one client. “This level of understanding and commitment to our account ensures that we get the right solution first time and in no… View Article

Sollie Bartoe, Area Senior Vice President, Gallagher When Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. merged last year with a health care system, its master group medical practice liability policy was ready for the new physicians. That’s because of Gallagher’s Sollie Barto. Under Baptist’s prior structure, claims could pit doctor against employer, said Rodney Betts, VP, finance…. View Article

Seth Cole, Senior Vice President, Alliant The Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority is made up of 360 water districts across California. One district, explained Karen Thesing, director of insurance services, has a hydropower electric facility worth $3.2 billion. When the authority placed its all-risk portfolio in April, it did not include… View Article

Jacqueline Altschul, Account Executive Lead, Alliant Insurance Services By building deep relationships with her clients and their families, Jacqueline Altschul adds value by often anticipating risk before they do. While reviewing coverage for a billionaire client from Japan, she noticed he hadn’t appraised his art collection in five years. A new appraisal was completed, revealing… View Article

Kenneth Branigan, Senior Vice President, Marsh One of Kenneth Branigan’s recent challenges included devising a new approach to CAT risks for a client with more than 1,000 North American locations. Many are vulnerable to windstorm, flood and earthquake (WF&E), and 2017 saw three outlets suffer storm damage. At renewal, Branigan’s team negotiated a global marine… View Article

Jonathan Ball, Managing Director, Marsh “We started putting our general, umbrella and excess liability into a captive in 2017,” said one manager of risk and insurance. “It should not have been difficult but our carrier really struggled with how to handle the paper. “We talked to them about it months in advance and every time… View Article

Larry Bowlus, Senior Vice President, Aon Professional liability insurance veteran Larry Bowlus is a broker his clients have come to rely on. His positive traits are numerous, but they include the fact he is a great listener who is also skilled at communicating with various internal constituents. “I didn’t have an insurance background coming into… View Article

Maron Impagliazzo, Vice President, EPIC Despite the legalization of recreational marijuana in California, growers and distributors have a hard time building their businesses, because few insurers want to take on their commercial auto exposure. The potential for theft combined with federal prohibition of cannabis makes transporting the goods a risk endeavor. But Maron Impagliazzo and… View Article

When the data from wearables is integrated with virtual and augmented reality, simulated ‘virtual workers’ will help companies get a grip on workplace risk before incidents even occur.

Fleet operators will want to examine their policies and procedures ahead of any employment practices claims.

Watching workers go home safe and injury-free is why this health and safety manager does his job.