Rising stars


“The ACII qualification provides you with a fantastic insight into virtually every aspect of the industry.”


industry—this really helped me decide on my next career move towards underwriting.


Do you think the industry is attractive to young professionals? The insurance industry is certainly a very attractive one for young professionals. It offers great


Name: Jessica Johnson


Company: Barbican Insurance Group Job:


Class underwriter, malicious acts


Timeline: 2013: Class underwriter, malicious acts, Barbican Insurance Group


2010: Underwriter, marine treaty, Barbican Insurance Group


2008: Assistant underwriter, Barbican Insurance Group


2006: Underwriting assistant, marine treaty, Endurance


2004: Claims technician, hull and cargo, JLT Risk Solutions


Describe your role now and career so far I started my career as a claims technician at JLT Risk Solutions working on hull and cargo claims before joining Endurance in 2006 as an underwriting assistant for the marine treaty team. In 2008, I moved to Barbican, joining the firm as an assistant underwriter. I completed my ACII in 2010 and was promoted to underwriter that same year, focusing on the malicious acts component of the marine treaty account. In 2013 malicious acts was split out from the marine treaty portfolio to form a standalone class of business, and I head it as class underwriter.


Why did you choose the re/insurance industry? When I finished my ‘A’ levels, all I really knew was that I wanted to work in the city. My uncle is an ‘average’ adjuster and this sparked my interest in the insurance sector. My first insurance role was as a claims technician at JLT Risk Solutions. A requirement of the job was to pass the Lloyd’s Test within six months and this gave me a great insight into the Lloyd’s market itself and the wider insurance


30 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | May 2015 career diversity and potential for


progression, as well as significant financial incentives. It is also one of the few industries that offers the chance to study for qualifications ‘on the job’. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to do this at Barbican, which is very focused on getting the best from its employees by creating a positive working environment that supports career development, and became ACII qualified at the age of 25.


Do you think the reinsurance re/insurance industry offers good opportunities and career development to young professionals? The industry offers significant opportunities for young professionals, but to make the most of these you have to have the right foundations in place. The ACII qualification provides you with a fantastic insight into virtually every aspect of the industry. I have been extremely lucky to have worked alongside some of the best underwriters in the market during my career to date, and their support and encouragement has not only helped me get to where I am today, but also given me the desire to always look for opportunities to better myself.


What are your aspirations for the future? At present, my focus is on further enhancing my abilities as an underwriter. I have been underwriting the malicious acts account at Barbican since 2010 as part of the marine treaty team. In 2013, the account was split out to form a standalone class of business for which I am the class underwriter. Underwriting the malicious account is exciting and challenging, and each day provides me with an opportunity to learn more. Moving forward, I will continue to strive to grow the account


profitably, as well as seeking opportunities to expand my level of expertise; and further down the line I look forward to managing an entire team underwriting the account.


If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? Art and design have always been a passion of mine, and I love nothing more than spending time in galleries appreciating the great works of art on display. I would like to say that if I had chosen a different career path it would have been in this area, although my numerical skills are somewhat better than my artistic talents so maybe I am exactly where I should be.


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