Between The Lines

In this episode of the InsuranceAsia News podcast, editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey is joined by senior correspondent Aidan Gregory and reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar to discuss the latest developments shaping Asia’s insurance and reinsurance markets.This week, Mithun speaks with TA Ramalingam, managing director and chief executive officer of Valueattics Reinsurance, India’s first private sector reinsurer, about the Fairfax-backed carrier’s strategy, growth ambitions and the evolving dynamics of India’s fast-growing insurance and reinsurance market.The team also examines the impact of the recent earthquake in the Philippines, the multi-billion-dollar bid for Australian broker Steadfast, BMS’ exit from its Hong Kong Asia M&A business, Victor Kuk’s plans for Peak Re, Asian carriers’ growing sidecar ambitions, and exclusive people-move stories from across the region.Co-produced by Joana NguyenProduced by Jarrod Watt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. This week, Mithun sat down with Testudo founder and CEO George Lewin-Smith to discuss AI liability risk and how they provide dedicated liability coverage for companies deploying generative AI and agentic systems. The team also talks about quarterly results from the leading reinsurers, nat cats, M&A, some big people moves, and the latest from the Strait of Hormuz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.This week, Aidan sat down with CyberCube CEO Chris Methven to discuss the development of the cyber insurance market in Asia Pacific, as well as CyberCube's growth plans for the region.The team also talks about the latest insurance market impacts of the conflict with Iran in the Middle East, Sompo's Australia expansion, a leadership change at Swiss Re, a cyclone in New Zealand, and what's next for Lloyd's after Blueprint Two. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. This episode features a special interview with Pavlos Spyropoulos, regional managing director for Asia Pacific at Tokio Marine Kiln. Pavlos discusses Lloyd's Singapore and the evolution of Asia's specialty market. The team also discusses the leadership change at Hong Kong reinsurer Peak Re, the strategic deal between Berkshire Hathaway and Tokio Marine Holdings, M&A, people moves, and the latest from the conflict in the Middle East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and reporter and Joana Nguyen discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. This episode features a special interview with Mark Rueegg, CEO and founder of parametric specialist CelsiusPro. Mark discusses pushing the boundaries of parametric cover in Asia Pacific. Other topics include Sompo completing its acquisition of Aspen, Swiss Re CorSo announcing its acquisition of a QBE division, Steadfast's CEO retiring, Aviso Specialty's rain on Lockton and the P&I renewals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. This episode features a special interview with Andrew Smith, co-founder and COO of Swiss Re-owned water risk intelligence firm Fathom. Andrew discusses Fathom's approach to flood modelling and the challenges in closing the flood protection gap in the region.  Other topics include Zurich's bid for Beazley, nat cats, Vietnam's new reinsurer AlphaRe, and date centres. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporters Joana Nguyen and Roshan Nambiar discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.This episode features a special interview with Hassan Omaish, CEO at Allianz Trade for Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. Hassan discusses rising insolvencies, disruptions to global trade and rising economic volatility. Other topics include the fire at the Hong Kong housing estate, nat cats in Australia, floods in Southeast Asia, and M&A. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News deputy editor Andrew Mullen is joined by editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory and reporter Joana Nguyen to review the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC). The team gives their personal highlights from the three-day event at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, plus delve deep into the main talking points and key takeaways from the 21st edition of the key event on the reinsurance calendar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory and reporter Joana Nguyen discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.This episode features a special interview with Stephen Wares, head of underwriting, international, Coalition, who discusses the state of the cyber market and the specialist MGA's growth ambitions.Other topics include a round-up of the nat cat events in the past two weeks, Japan’s offshore wind market taking flight, DB’s acquisition of US carrier Fortegra, the big Lloyd’s Asia exit, Mapfre’s APAC expansion plans and more. Links:Vietnam’s 2025 nat cat economic losses top US$1.3bnARPC in ‘strong financial position’ despite ‘large scale’ impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone AlfredChris Mackinnon to leave Lloyd’s in 2026 to pursue new opportunitiesMapfre Re targets billion-euro Asian GWP milestone: Javier Sánchez CeaDB Insurance clinches US$1.65bn deal for US specialty carrier FortegraJapanese offshore wind a ‘big opportunity’ for (re)insurers: Tokio Marine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deputy editor Andrew Mullen is joined by editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, reporter Joana Nguyen, and intern Roshan Nambiar to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. This episode features a special interview with Wei Wang, the chief executive at Rare Earth Insurance Partners, who shares his insights into the Chinese insurance market and what is next for the broker. Other topics include updates from two major conferences in Singapore and Monte Carlo, the protests in Indonesia, Lloyd's results, and M&A, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey is joined in the newsroom by deputy editor Andrew Mullen, senior correspondent Aidan Gregory, and intern Roshan Nambiar to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets.This episode features a special interview with Fion Ko, associate director for fine art and specie at Willis, focusing on trends in the regional fine art and specie market, and how nat cats and sustainability trends are transforming the industry.Other topics include updates on Hong Kong’s black rainstorm as well as floods in North Asia, Hong Kong's captive push, lawsuit over container ship that sank off Indian coast, broker moves and M&A, Australia's "hard-line" merger control rules, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on.Want to know more about the stories we discussed?https://insuranceasianews.com/losses-from-hong-kongs-record-breaking-rainfall-less-widespread-than-2023-black-rainstorm-sedgwick/Losses from Hong Kong’s record-breaking rainfall less widespread than 2023 black rainstorm: Sedgwickhttps://insuranceasianews.com/heavy-rain-floods-landslides-leave-insurers-counting-losses-across-hong-kong-china-india/Heavy rain, floods, landslides leave insurers counting losses across Hong Kong, China, Indiahttps://insuranceasianews.com/hong-kong-goes-up-the-gears-hands-chinese-carmaker-saic-regulatory-approval-for-captive/Hong Kong goes up the gears, hands Chinese carmaker SAIC regulatory approval for captivhttps://insuranceasianews.com/msc-elsa-3-owner-seeks-to-cap-liability-as-indian-state-government-files-us1bn-suit/MSC Elsa 3 owner seeks to cap liability as Indian state government files US$1bn suithttps://insuranceasianews.com/bridge-specialty-reshuffles-asia-leadership-with-david-ong-elevated-to-acorn-chairman/Bridge Specialty reshuffles Asia leadership with David Ong elevated to Acorn chairmanhttps://insuranceasianews.com/gallagher-acquires-new-zealands-insure-taranaki/Gallagher acquires New Zealand’s Insure Taranakihttps://insuranceasianews.com/australias-new-hard-line-ma-rules-snag-small-mid-cap-insurers-amid-overreach-warning/Australia’s new ‘hard line’ M&A rules snag small, mid-cap insurers amid overreach warning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News editor-in-chief Mithun Varkey is joined in the newsroom by deputy editor Andrew Mullen and reporter Joana Nguyen to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. Our special interview is with Tom Oostra, CEO of MSIG Specialty Marine, focusing on the firm's plans for Asia following a recent rebrand. Other topics include the latest on Vietnam's PVI Insurance, the Air India plane crash, the Qantas cyber attack, nat cats in Australia and New Zealand, some people moves in the region, as well as a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working.Want to know more about the stories we discussed?https://insuranceasianews.com/pvi-eyes-hanoi-re-divestment-plan-as-part-of-broader-growth-push/PVI eyes Hanoi Re divestment plan as part of broader growth pushhttps://insuranceasianews.com/air-india-compensation-unaffected-by-pilot-error-possibility-report/Air India compensation unaffected by pilot error possibility: reporthttps://insuranceasianews.com/qantas-cyber-breach-to-create-turbulence-for-insureds-and-insurers-but-losses-could-fly-under-the-radar/Qantas cyber breach to create turbulence for insureds and insurers, but losses could fly under the radarhttps://insuranceasianews.com/ex-tropical-cyclone-alfred-accounts-for-88-of-pool-claims-since-inception-aprc-says/Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred accounts for 88% of pool claims since inception, ARPC sayhttps://insuranceasianews.com/tough-for-communities-new-zealanders-begin-clean-up-again-after-latest-severe-weather/‘Tough for communities’: New Zealanders begin clean-up again after latest severe weather Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

InsuranceAsia News deputy editor Andrew Mullen is joined in the newsroom by special projects editor Kristina Shperlik and reporter Joana Nguyen to discuss the stories shaping the region’s (re)insurance markets. This episode features a special interview with Vittorio Sangiorgio, head of investment solutions at one of the biggest ILS-focused asset managers Twelve Securis, focusing on the growing interest they are seeing in Asia Pacific. Other topics include four exclusive personnel changes in the region, consequences of legal action following the Air India crash, the latest update on the P&I Clubs' strategies and marine events, and a sneak peek at the stories the team is currently working on.Want to know more about the stories we discussed?https://insuranceasianews.com/surely-prices-will-go-up-air-india-crash-to-push-hull-and-liability-rates-could-impact-product-liability/https://insuranceasianews.com/marsh-japan-hires-wtw-veteran-hirofumi-luke-nakamura-amid-exodus-ongoing-tensions/ https://insuranceasianews.com/samsung-fire-marine-to-buy-additional-21-stake-in-canopius/ https://insuranceasianews.com/strait-of-hormuz-collision-highlights-dark-fleet-dangers-but-not-seen-as-war-event/If you are not a subscriber, take our free trial: https://insuranceasianews.com/register/free-trial/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.