Outcomes

The Data-Driven Insurer & Broker: Risk, Regulation and Profitability – Event Highlights

6th November 2025 – Apex City of London Hotel

Members of the London Market community gathered on 6th November 2025 at the Apex City of London Hotel for a thought-provoking breakfast roundtable — “The Data Driven Insurer & Broker: Risk, Regulation and Profitability.”

Convened and hosted by Roger Oldham, CEO and Founder of London Market Forums (LMF), the session brought together senior Market professionals to discuss how insurers and brokers can better harness data to manage risk, navigate regulation, and drive profitability in an increasingly complex environment.

Supported by Dun & Bradstreet, the discussion explored how the Market’s “data gap” — combined with fragmented systems, inconsistent definitions, and in some cases a Company’s governance structure — continues to hinder our ability to gain true value from the colossal amount of data we hold individually within our firms and as a Market. As participants agreed, the solution lies in creating the right culture of data responsibility and collaboration, as well as identifying the best technology fit.

The Data Dilemma

Setting the scene, Patrick from Dun & Bradstreet explained how their global database of over 620 million business records enables organisations to identify and connect entities through the unique D-U-N-S® Number, creating a universal standard for tracing ownership, assessing financial stability, and managing risk across subsidiaries and markets.

“Having a clean data set to build your analytics from is incredibly valuable,” Patrick noted. “It’s the old adage of garbage in, garbage out. Whether your analytics are done on an Excel spreadsheet or through a clever AI model, the inference is the same.”

Attendees agreed that data is one of the Market’s most valuable assets — but also one of its most underused. As one participant summarised, “The Market isn’t short of data — it’s short of trusted data.”

Governance: Enabler or Obstacle?

Governance emerged as one of the most debated themes of the morning. While recognised as critical for responsible data management, many felt that rigid governance frameworks can unintentionally slow innovation.

“Governance should inform how we use data, not hold us back,” one contributor commented. “Too often, it becomes a brake rather than an accelerator.”

Others highlighted that governance must evolve from a departmental function to an enterprise-wide discipline. “The traditional model doesn’t work anymore,” said another attendee. “Every department is now a data function. To be truly data-driven, governance has to be embedded everywhere, not owned by one team.”

Culture and Collaboration at the Core

A recurring message — echoed across many LMF sessions — was that sustainable change depends on people, not platforms.

“We talk a lot about data strategy,” said one participant, “but what we really need is data confidence at every level of the organisation.”

Others reflected that reluctance to capture and validate data remains a persistent barrier: “People don’t want to input the data in the first place. If they’re not bought in, even the best governance in the world won’t make it work.”

As another attendee summed up, “It’s always people. Governance, tools, and systems matter — but without culture, none of it sticks.”

Breaking Down Barriers

Participants candidly discussed how legacy systems, acquisitions, and inconsistent definitions have led to multiple “versions of the truth.”

“Different areas of the same organisation end up speaking different languages,” said one contributor. “Over time, they evolve into completely different species of data — one’s a monkey, one’s a human, one’s a gorilla. That’s why communication breaks down.”

Others argued that transformation projects often fail because they’re treated as isolated initiatives rather than enterprise-wide programmes. “If you don’t integrate change across the organisation, you just keep applying sticky tape. The problems only get bigger.”

Responsible Innovation and the AI Horizon

The conversation naturally turned to artificial intelligence and its dependency on data integrity and trust. “AI is only as strong as the data that feeds it,” one participant said. “If we don’t trust the data or the governance behind it, the outputs won’t be trusted either.”

Another observed that risk-taking remains fundamental to innovation: “We’re an industry built on assessing risk — not avoiding it. Governance should enable responsible risk-taking, not stifle it.”

A Shared Vision for the Market

As the discussion drew to a close, Roger Oldham reflected on the common thread running through every LMF conversation:

“Across every session we host — regardless of topic or seniority — we always come back to people. Governance, culture, and collaboration will define how the Market uses data to shape its future.”

He thanked Dun & Bradstreet for their partnership and the attendees for their candid contributions, noting the importance of forums like these in connecting professionals, sharing insight, and driving progress across the Market.

Looking Ahead

LMF will continue to bring the Market together to discuss the critical issues shaping its future. The next sessions include the Data Trust & Competitive Advantage in an AI driven Market on 25th November, our annual Cyber Summit on 26th November, followed by the Technology and Innovation Summit on 9th December, and the LMF Annual Christmas Party that evening, with our final event being on 16th December in the Old Library at Lloyd’s where we’ll be looking closely at a most topic area, third party supply chain risk.

For over a decade, London Market Forums has placed insurance professionals at the heart of the EC3 conversation — and this latest roundtable has reaffirmed that the journey toward a truly data-driven Market begins and ends with its people, culture and oversight.

If you’re not already part of this interactive Market group, reach out today and put yourself at the heart of the LMF Market discussion.