The Artemis ILS NYC 2022 conference, held in New York City, drew over 200 attendees, making it the largest gathering since the 2020 event. This marked the fifth in-person and sixth overall ILS NYC conference, following a virtual edition the previous year. The organizers chose a smaller, yet central Midtown venue to accommodate the return to in-person events while maintaining a modern and comfortable environment for attendees.
The event, themed “(Re)setting the scene”, focused on the future of insurance-linked securities (ILS) as the industry emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and handles ongoing catastrophe losses. It aimed to provide a platform for forward-looking discussions, networking, and insights from industry leaders, addressing both challenges and opportunities in the evolving ILS environment.
Panels tackle key ILS issues
Panels addressed critical issues facing the ILS market, with each session led by prominent figures. Ben Fox of Hiscox ILS moderated a discussion on the importance of transparency and predictability, joined by Matthew Ball of WTW, Cory Anger of GC Securities, and Matthew Berdoff of Hudson Structured Capital Management. This panel emphasized reducing surprises and keeping investors informed to build trust in the market.
Another panel, moderated by Judith Klugman of Swiss Re, explored strategies to drive market growth following the record-high catastrophe bond issuance in 2021. Participants included David Flitman of Safepoint Insurance, Chris Caponigro of AXIS ILS, and Philipp Kusche of TigerRisk Capital Markets & Advisory. The discussion focused on making the ILS market more accessible and propelling it to new heights.
The need for differentiation within the ILS market was another key theme, led by Stephan Ruoff of Schroders Capital. Panelists Brittany Baker of CyberCube, Rob Hauff of Vesttoo, and James Lee of Aspen Capital Markets discussed how variety can attract investors and meet the diverse needs of ceding companies.
Focus on responsibility and the future
A panel led by Tom Johansmeyer of Verisk Insurance Solutions looked into the role of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations in the ILS asset class. Joined by Lorenzo Volpi of Leadenhall Capital Partners LLP, Tanya Watters of Neuberger Berman, and Craig Hupper of TransRe, the discussion explored how the ILS market can expand its responsible investment potential and address climate-related challenges.
The conference concluded with Session 5 – Expert Panel of moderators, a wrap-up Q&A session featuring the four moderators from the main panels: Tom Johansmeyer, Ben Fox, Judith Klugman, and Stephan Ruoff. They were joined by Steve Evans from Artemis for a final discussion that summarized the day’s insights and looked ahead to the future of the ILS market. This session provided a full overview of the key takeaways and highlighted the importance of continued innovation and collaboration in the industry.