We expect the balance between property catastrophe and specialty to shift. As risks evolve, we will be ready with solutions that combine technical precision, financial strength, and a long-term commitment to partnership.Emily Davis
Head of Global Specialty, Everest
How would you describe Everest’s vision for the global specialties business?
Specialty markets move fast—whether it’s the acceleration of cyber threats, geopolitical uncertainty or the impact of climate volatility on energy assets. Our approach is to anticipate risk shifts as early as possible and then build solutions that can scale and adapt over time. We see global specialties as a space where disciplined underwriting, deep sector expertise and structural innovation can make a measurable difference for clients, but also for overall market stability.
Where are you finding the strongest momentum and opportunities for growth?
In the last 18 months, we have seen notable growth in parametric solutions linked to climate risk, particularly for risks related to the energy transition. Cyber remains an area of high demand but also heightened scrutiny on coverage triggers and aggregation management. Marine is benefiting from shifts in global trade routes and asset demand, but requires a sharper focus on geopolitical and operational risk. The global investment in infrastructure and manufacturing will also drive demand for engineering, particularly as the scale of these projects continues to increase. The common thread across these areas is selective participation—growth where fundamentals justify it.
How does the team stay agile and connected to client needs across different markets?
We are a true global team and operate with a decentralised underwriting model. Local underwriters have decision-making authority, which allows us to respond quickly to market shifts—whether that’s a sudden regulatory change in Asia Pacific or a new risk profile in European marine. At the same time, our global specialty and financial risk teams are tightly connected and can provide unique solutions in today’s evolving environment in areas such as renewable energy.
What innovations have had the biggest client impact?
In parametric, we have refined triggers to cover more complex loss scenarios, such as concurrent weather events or infrastructure outages.
In cyber, outage and supply chain triggers have given cedants a tool to manage both frequency and severity. These are not designed to replace traditional coverage, but rather to complement in areas where volatility is more difficult to model.
What is the role of global specialties in Everest’s strategic growth plan in the years ahead?
Global specialties is a differentiating element for Everest in the market, and thus plays a critical role in our growth plans, allowing us to bring distinguished experts and technical expertise to the right clients, while driving a healthy revenue and profit model. These lines diversify our portfolio and exposure base, and over the next five years, we expect the balance between property catastrophe and specialty to shift, driven by both client demand and the way systemic risks are evolving.
In the years ahead, our focus will be on deepening expertise, expanding our footprint in high-growth segments and continuing to innovate in both structure and product. The aim is not just top-line growth—it’s building resilience into the overall portfolio so that we are positioned to deliver results across different parts of the cycle. As risks evolve—whether from climate volatility, geopolitical shifts or technological change—we will be ready with solutions that combine technical precision, financial strength and a long-term commitment to partnership. That is how we’ll continue to deliver value year after year.
What is one trend you think the market isn’t paying enough attention to in specialties?
The potential for secondary impacts from geopolitical events is underappreciated. We tend to focus on direct losses—physical damage or cyber incidents—but the follow-on effects, whether in trade flows, data access or regulatory response, could be just as significant.
It’s an area where we are investing more and providing additional analytical resources as we evolve our offering for the long term.
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