100 influential women in re/insurance
“I am a strong believer that lawyers really cut their teeth working in the heart of the business and reporting to the CEO and this was my first non-head office role where I didn’t report to another lawyer and sat on the regional executive team.”
Name: Alex Moon
Company: Novae Job:
Group general counsel
Timeline: 2015—Group general counsel, Novae 2011—Emerging markets general counsel, RSA 2010—Legal, risk & compliance director, Central & Eastern Europe, RSA 2007—Group legal counsel, RSA 2004—Associate, Travers Smith 1999—Associate, Allen & Overy
Why did you choose to work in this industry initially? I came into insurance more by chance than by design. In 2007 I decided to make the move in-house from Travers Smith and I was interested in roles in a regulated industry. I felt there was more scope to add value to a business in an industry that is subject to regulatory scrutiny and the profile of in-house counsel is higher and not viewed as a back office function. I moved to RSA and since then I have chosen to make my subsequent career moves in insurance as I feel it still has a lot to offer the general counsel. The industry is undergoing an intense period of change from a regulatory and a market perspective, which makes the role more challenging and rewarding.
What has been the highlight of your career so far? I’d point to two pivotal career moments—first my appointment as head of legal, risk and compliance for RSA’s Central & Eastern Europe business in 2009. I am a strong believer that lawyers really cut their teeth working in the heart of the business and reporting to the CEO and this was my first non-head office role where I didn’t report to another lawyer and sat on the regional executive team. I was lucky enough to be part of a great management team and had the opportunity to expand my remit and take on responsibilities in risk and compliance; I was the architect of the function leading people across six different businesses in different geographies, which was very interesting from a cultural perspective and where I developed as a leader.
70 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 2015
The second one would be my appointment at Novae—I am delighted to be working in Lloyd’s as the GC and Company Secretary of a listed business at a pivotal and challenging time for the London market, but also a very exciting time for Novae. It is a tough market for insurers yet Novae’s size and agile approach is enabling us to identify opportunities for profitable growth. I am looking forward to supporting the team to help achieve our primary objective to be an innovative specialty insurer.
What has been the biggest challenge you have
encountered? Working in emerging markets for five years brought many challenges—I have some interesting stories about lessons learned navigating the Russian regulatory environment. On a more serious note, I would say that supporting the board and management through this current period of intense regulatory change while ensuring that Novae maintains its agility and focus and continues to deliver for our customers in a challenging market, is a key focus for me. The legal and compliance functions must support the business’ strategic objectives, but also act as the conscience of the organisation and provide a robust second line of defence— getting the balance right is important.
If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? I studied languages at university and have always been interested in different cultures and so was tempted by a career in the Foreign Office after graduation, although on reflection I suspect the Civil Service would not have been for me. I am also fascinated by property and design and in another life I’d have liked to do something in that field—at the moment I just practise on my own property!
www.intelligentinsurer.com
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