The International Underwriting Association (IUA), which represents insurers and reinsurers in the London market, has established a new Chief Underwriting Officers Council for the London corporate market.
The newly formed group will provide leadership and direction for all IUA efforts to support its members’ underwriting operations. It will also provide input into research projects and explore the impact of emerging risks.
On October 10, 2025, the Board of Governors met and reviewed the results of a recent IUA survey of senior underwriting executives. The survey results identified three top challenges for the year ahead: market conditions and profitability, attracting and retaining underwriting talent, and implementing new technologies into the underwriting process.
Respondents also listed the most important emerging risks, with geopolitical instability considered the biggest threat, followed by social inflation and an increase in natural disasters.
The IUA survey also highlights key opportunities for underwriters to focus on over the next five years, including leveraging artificial intelligence and data, improving risk resilience and sustainability, and closing insurance protection gaps.
Tom Hughes, IUA director of underwriting, was responsible for convening the new committee of chief underwriting officers. He said: “I am excited to develop this new team, which will ensure the IUA’s strategic objectives are closely aligned with our members’ underwriting priorities.
“By working with senior executives at companies, we will be well-positioned to guide the debate and promote innovative solutions to the key underwriting challenges facing our industry.”
The Chief Underwriting Officer Committee will include at least one representative who is also a member of the Association’s Board of Directors to provide direct input to the IUA’s senior governance body. Currently, that’s Rob Wilson, chief underwriting officer at Chubb Global Markets.
