Skip to main content

Podcast

Risk in Context Podcast: Understanding and mitigating political risks in a shifting global environment

In today's rapidly changing global landscape, businesses are increasingly exposed to political risks that can impact their existing or planned investments.
diverse crowd walking on city street

In today's rapidly changing global landscape, businesses are increasingly exposed to political risks that can impact their existing or planned investments. These risks are further amplified by state-led economic policies, unpredictable conflicts, and the 2024 election year, which will see over 60 countries going to the polls.

To successfully navigate these challenges, it is crucial for business leaders to have a robust strategy in place. And as outlined in the recently released Political Risk Report 2024, it is critical for senior leaders to understand the importance of identifying, preparing for, and mitigating political risks.

In this episode of Risk in Context, Robert Perry, Marsh’s Global Head of Political Risk and Structured Credit, speaks with Chris Coppock, who leads the Political Risk analytics team, and James Lloyd, a Senior Vice President specialising in political violence and terrorism within Bowring Marsh, about the main political risks faced by businesses worldwide. They also discuss how businesses can effectively navigate this adverse environment, mitigate risk, and make the most of opportunities by leveraging a robust political risk and trade insurance program.

Apple Podcast Spotify Podcast
Download Transcript

Key takeaways

Businesses face a multitude of interlinked risks

Interconnected political, trade, macroeconomic, climate, and other risks can have a cascading effect on businesses, requiring business leaders to strengthen their ability to identify, prepare for, and mitigate time-sensitive challenges through a robust risk management strategy.

Significant focus on political violence during a major election year

More than 60 elections will take place in 2024, raising significant concerns for businesses, especially considering the risk of AI-fueled misinformation and disinformation, requiring organizations to closely monitor developments and manage potential repercussions.

Political risk and trade credit insurance can provide critical protection

The commercial insurance market remains strong, providing ample coverage and critical protection to businesses, helping them safeguard their investments and operations against uncertainties and potential disruptions, and allowing them to continue investing in opportunities.

About our speakers

Robert Perry

Robert Perry

Global Head, Political Risk and Structured Credit, Marsh

  • United Kingdom

Robert Perry is Marsh’s Global Head for Political Risk and Structured Credit, based in London. He is also the CEO of Credit Specialties UK. He joined Marsh in 2016 as the Political and Structured Credit Leader for Asia, following 35 years in the insurance industry, 25 of which were focused on political and structured credit risk insurance. Throughout his career he has focused extensively on working with a diverse range of multinational corporations, commodity traders, financial institutions, and public agencies. He has worked on large and complex projects with organizations in multiple industries and has very broad experience placing business for clients around the world into the global insurance and reinsurance marketplace.

Christopher Coppock

Christopher Coppock

Vice President Political Risk Analysis, Credit Specialties, Marsh Specialty

  • United Kingdom

Christopher Coppock leads the Political Risk analysis team within Marsh’s Credit Specialties Practices, providing political risk assessments, economic analysis, and sector-specific insights for clients and for internal applications. Prior to joining Marsh, he worked at Darktrace, focusing on critical cybersecurity insurance issues. He holds Master’s degrees from Sciences Po, Paris, and the London School of Economics in international affairs and global security issues.

James Lloyd

James Lloyd

Senior Vice President, War and Terrorism, Bowring Marsh

  • United Kingdom

James Lloyd is a Senior Vice President, working in Bowring Marsh’s Terrorism and Political Violence team. Based in London, he leads the of the North American Terrorism account, working primarily on North American domiciled clients. This has included the placement of complex programs covering clients’ exposures domestically in the continent but also for their overseas assets and exposures in the developing world and emerging markets.

Related insights

This publication is not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable, but we make no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. Marsh shall have no obligation to update this publication and shall have no liability to you or any other party arising out of this publication or any matter contained herein. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. Any modelling, analytics, or projections are subject to inherent uncertainty, and any analysis could be materially affected if any underlying assumptions, conditions, information, or factors are inaccurate or incomplete or should change.
 LCPA 24/179

Marsh Pty Ltd (ABN 86 004 651 512, AFSL 238983) (“Marsh”) arrange this insurance and is not the insurer. The Discretionary Trust Arrangement is issued by the Trustee, JLT Group Services Pty Ltd (ABN 26 004 485 214, AFSL 417964) (“JGS”). JGS is part of the Marsh group of companies. Any advice in relation to the Discretionary Trust Arrangement is provided by JLT Risk Solutions Pty Ltd (ABN 69 009 098 864, AFSL 226827) which is a related entity of Marsh. The cover provided by the Discretionary Trust Arrangement is subject to the Trustee’s discretion and/or the relevant policy terms, conditions and exclusions. This website contains general information, does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and may not suit your personal circumstances. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers and before making any decision about whether to acquire a product, refer to the specific policy wordings and/or Product Disclosure Statements available from JLT Risk Solutions on request. Full information can be found in the JLT Risk Solutions Financial Services Guide.”