Hiscox London Market’s General Liability Senior Underwriter, Louise Jones, discusses her journey into insurance and the most pressing issues right now in the General Liability world.
How did you get into insurance?
One of my university friends was working at an insurance company and she told me about a vacancy for an Underwriting Assistant position. At the time I was working in merchandising and thought there were some similarities between the jobs. I applied and the rest is history.
What advice would you give to someone who is starting out in the industry?
Never think a task is beneath you, it’s surprising what experience you can get from doing something outside of your job description and you never know when it might come in useful in the future or who you might meet in the process.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Every trip I make to the US is a highlight. I consider myself very fortunate to work in an industry that involves travel and there is no better way to get to know clients that to visit them in person.
What should someone know about you that isn’t on your CV?
I studied Japanese for a year at secondary school.
What do you love most about working in the insurance?
I love that it’s a people driven industry.
What are the most pressing issues in the General Liability world currently?
Social Inflation continues to be a major concern. Over recent years we have seen an increase in plaintiff friendly legal decisions and larger compensatory jury awards. These are leading to nuclear verdicts, far higher than we had seen in the past.
What is the most valuable skill to have as an underwriter, and why?
An eye for detail is essential. Underwriters deal with large amounts of information and complex policy wordings so it’s important not to miss something.
What 3 words would use to describe being an underwriter?
Challenging, Interesting and Rewarding.
