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by Mark Thomas
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- Jul 8, 20251h 19m
The Evolution of the CDO Role in Insurance & Navigating the AI hype with Chris Pearce, CDO at esure
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Chris Pearce, Chief Data Officer at esure. Chris shares his fascinating journey from a childhood love of video games to leading one of the UK’s most advanced data and AI transformations in the insurance industry.We explore Chris’s academic path from mathematics to a PhD in epidemiology, his early career spanning banking, automotive, and aggregators, and his progression into insurance leadership. Along the way, Chris gives a brutally honest view on the evolution of the CDO role, the hype and reality of AI in production, and how esure has embedded over a dozen generative AI use cases into the frontline of its business.Key topics discussed:Why video games sparked Chris’s interest in problem-solving and led to a career in dataWhat a PhD in epidemiology taught him about resilience, research, and learning how little you knowHis early career in banking, Mercedes-Benz, and MoneySuperMarket and how each built his leadership toolkitEntering insurance with Hastings Direct and building data science teams across pricing, fraud, and claimsBecoming CDO at esure and building an enterprise-wide data and AI capabilityThe differences between 1st-gen and 2nd-gen Chief Data Officer rolesWhat most people misunderstand about driving value from data scienceHow to thrive as a leader without losing your technical edgeWhat 16 GenAI use cases in production actually looks like in practiceWhere the CDO role is heading, and why agentic AI is nextThis is a brilliant insight into the mindset and career history of a modern, new CDO and what's next for data leaders in the insurance sector. Connect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereChris on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams.
- Jul 1, 20251h 8m
From Corporate Tech Leader to Independent: How David Clamp took to leap and ended up building The Camelot Network
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by David Clamp Founder of The Camelot Network, a network of independent consultants serving the insurance sector. From apprentice electronic engineer to insurance transformation leader and founder of a thriving network of 150+ independent experts, David Clamp’s career path has had some key milestones and changes in direction. In this episode, David shares the pivotal moments that shaped his journey, the birth of The Camelot Network, and his mission to reinvent what it means to be an independent advisor in insurance.We dive into:Leaving corporate life and embracing risk at 50Building The Camelot Network from a pub meetup to a market forceBridging the gap between insurance and insurtechWhat makes a successful independent consultantThe future of AI, data, and operating models in insuranceConnect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereDavid on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com
- Jun 24, 202555 min
Not Your Typical CTO - Taking a different path to insurance tech leadership with Daren Rudd, VP Insurance Consulting at CGI
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Daren Rudd, Head of Insurance Business and Technology Consulting at CGI. Daren is a self-proclaimed "non-traditional CTO" whose route into insurance technology started not with a computer science degree, but a geography course and a job in marketing. Daren's path is a masterclass in curiosity, resilience and leadership that prioritises strategic impact over ego or titles.We delve into the pivotal moments that have shaped his 30+ year career, including a decade at Hiscox, a stint at Brit, the leap into consulting, and his current leadership role at CGI. Along the way, we explore how insurance businesses are tackling modernisation, the risks of layering AI on legacy, and why tech leaders need to stop pretending they have all the answers.Whether you're a current or aspiring leader, Daren's story offers an honest and refreshingly practical view on what good leadership actually looks like in insurance tech today.Key topics we cover include: Why Daren swapped marketing for tech (with no formal background)What makes a great BA and why it's not just a stepping stoneLeading without being the expert: lessons in facilitationThe danger of "AI as a silver bullet" for legacy systemsWhat today’s insurance clients really need: clarity, resilience, and pragmatismConnect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereDaren on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com
- Jun 17, 202555 min
Exploring the evolution of the insurance CTO with Paul Butler, CTO at Hiscox Re & ILS
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas by Paul Butler, newly appointed CTO of Hiscox Re & ILS and former CTO of Hiscox London Market. Paul’s journey is anything but typical. From writing code as a teenager on a ZX Spectrum to launching tech for startups in Borough Market and leading reinsurance innovation at one of the most recognised names in the London Market, his story is full of surprises, learnings, and sharp insights.We dive into:Why coming from outside insurance gave Paul the right tools for success inside itHow he scaled a startup from 10 to 350 people while battling burnoutThe pivot from project to product thinking at HiscoxHow hiring for attitude (not just skillset) helped him build high-impact teamsWhat he learned from selling data products to hedge fundsThe future of insurance automation and why underwriters still matterPlus, Paul shares his take on flow engineering, embracing multi-cloud, and loads more. Connect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HerePaul on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧 Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com
- Jun 10, 20251h 5m
Neural Networks to Insurtech with Krishnan Ethirajan, Chief Digital & AI Officer at Mosaic Insurance
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Krishnan Ethirajan, Chief Digital & AI Officer at Mosaic Insurance. Krishnan shares his fascinating journey from studying neural networks in the 1980s to leading cutting-edge AI initiatives in the global insurance sector. With a background that spans academia, consulting, and executive leadership, Krishnan's career is anything but linear. Together, they explore pivotal moments in his personal and professional life, how early exposure to neuroscience shaped his thinking on AI, and why staying uncomfortable is often the best place to grow.Key Topics Covered:Growing up in India and pursuing engineeringStudying AI and brain cognition in the 1980sBuilding a PhD from scratch at University of HoustonEarly neural networks and NASA-funded researchSelling his first company at 26 and choosing not to retireTransition from academia to John Deere to AllstateMoving into consulting with Gartner and PwCBecoming CEO of Ironshore after being their consultantFounding Mosaic Insurance in the middle of the pandemicDriving value through AI, tech and strategic innovationHow to build differentiated, future-facing AI in insuranceFrom brain plasticity and robotics to insurance operations and AI-led underwriting, this is an episode filled with thoughtful reflection, practical advice, and inspiring insights. Whether you're a tech leader, aspiring executive, or someone curious about where AI and insurance intersect, this is not one to missConnect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereKrishnan on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com
- Jun 3, 20251h 6m
Building a COO Career from Code to Strategy with Ketan Motwani, COO at Arch Insurance
In this week's episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Ketan Motwani, COO at Arch Insurance, for a rich and refreshingly candid conversation about career reinvention, resilience, and rising through transformation. From rebelling at school in India to being parachuted into boardrooms in the UK, Ketan’s story spans military training, software engineering, Deloitte consulting, and executive leadership at Aon and Arch.Key Topics Covered:From physics to the Indian Army to Deloitte: an unconventional startHow transformation became his leadership DNAMaking the shift from consulting to industry (and how having twins was the catalyst)The evolution of the COO role — and why it’s not one-size-fits-allEmbedding AI as part of a broader operating model shiftAdvice for aspiring COOs on building a rounded careerWe unpack the pivotal decisions that shaped his journey, the mindset shift required to go from change agent to COO, and why the London Market's data challenge is today’s biggest opportunity. Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a transformation junkie, or just love a great story - there’s something in here for you.Connect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereKetan on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com
- May 27, 20251h 7m
Decoding the Insurance CIO Journey with Arvinder Mudhar, Group CIO at IQUW
In this weeks episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Arvinder Mudhar, Group CIO of IQUW, whose career spans investment banking, global tech transformation, and the intricacies of the insurance world. From his first lines of BASIC code in East London to leading IT strategies across Mumbai, Geneva, and now London, Arvinder's journey is anything but typical.Key topics that we discussed include:Why he never planned to be a leader, and how he found his way into the CIO chairThe biggest cultural shift he experienced when moving from banking to insuranceHow bereavement counselling and career coaching shaped him into a better leaderHis view on AI as the most profound shift in tech in our lifetimeWhy insurance needs a CMO for the next generationThis episode is packed with practical advice for anyone considering a career in tech leadership, as well as deeply human insights into how people grow, change and lead through challenge.Connect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereArvinder on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: www.invectagroup.com
- May 20, 20251h 6m
Hélène Stanway on the Leap from Leadership to Independent Advisor
In this week’s episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas sits down with Hélène Stanway independent advisor and former Head of Digital & Innovation at AXA XL. With a career spanning more than 30 years across reinsurance, operations, digital innovation, and data, Hélène has carved a truly unique path through the insurance industry.In this wide-ranging conversation, we unpack her zigzag career journey, how curiosity led her into the world of insurtech and emerging tech, and why she's convinced insurance doesn’t have a technology problem but an adoption problem. From reinsurance recoveries in Farnborough to spearheading global innovation strategies and now advising organisations across the market, Helene shares wisdom on leading transformation, creating space for change, and making the leap to work independently.Key topics discussed:How Hélène intentionally chose insurance (yes, really!) and started in outwards reinsuranceThe pivotal moment RPA sparked her passion for innovationTransitioning from global operations to a digital innovation leadership role at AXA XLWhy success in innovation starts with structure, not just ideasThe secret to driving adoption in legacy-heavy environmentsWhat most insurers are getting wrong about AI and talent strategyWhy insurers must think beyond efficiency and start solving for growthThe reality of becoming an independent advisor - and the challenges of BD without playing golfThe power of breadth over linear career pathsHélène’s call for insurance to become service-led, not just product-ledThis is a fascinating story of career evolution and how you can flip what you are doing quickly, the challenges that change presents and whole lot more. Connect with us:Mark Thomas on LinkedIn: Connect HereFollow Beyond the Desk on LinkedIn: Follow HereWatch Full-Length Video Episodes on YouTube HereHélène on LinkedIn: Connect HereIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with colleagues who might find it valuable!New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. Thanks for tuning in - see you next time on Beyond the Desk! 🎧Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Invecta Search, the brand new leadership search product from Invecta Group, which leads the insurance industry in building best-in-class technology and transformation leadership teams. Find out more: linkedin.com/company/invecta-group
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About Beyond the Desk with Mark Thomas
THE Insurance Careers Podcast!Hosted by Mark Thomas, one of the UK's leading senior appointments recruiters in the technology, operations, change & transformation space, this podcast brings you exclusive interviews with the most influential names and brightest minds in insurance. Each week, Mark dives deep into the career journeys, pivotal moments, and stories of success and resilience that have shaped the careers of these global insurance technology leaders. You will gain insights, inspiration, and insider perspectives from the leaders who are redefining the industry's future right now!🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJL5z9-RSWJj3BKCKa-MQ6g💻 Connect with us on Linkedin for more insights and thought leadership www.linkedin.com/company/beyondthedeskpodcastJoin the conversation, follow us and explore the fascinating world of insurance careers like never before!Website: https://beyond-the-desk.captivate.
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