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Risk in Context Podcast: Developing a pathway to managing natural catastrophe risks

Catastrophic events ranging from tropical and other storms, to earthquakes, wildfires, and more can have devastating consequences for organizations, impacting their people, properties, and operations.

Catastrophic events — ranging from tropical and other storms, to earthquakes, wildfires, and more — can have devastating consequences for organizations, impacting their people, properties, and operations. The pace of recovery following such an event is typically dependent on robust preparedness plans that identify potential vulnerabilities and take preemptive action to address them.

In this episode of Risk in Context, Robert Gall, Marsh's Chief Property Claims Officer for the US, talks with Neil Greaves, who leads Marsh's Forensic Accounting and Claims Services in the UK, Karl Bryant, Senior Vice President, specializing in business continuity, Rich Wall, Head of Natural Hazards Consulting within Marsh's Advisory Practice, and Josh Darr, the Global Head of Guy Carpenter's Peril Advisory team. They discuss the importance of robust preparedness plans, the need to quantify losses, and share insights to improve resiliency ahead of a potential catastrophic event, including the upcoming Atlantic hurricane and wildfire seasons.

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Key takeaways

Prepare for stretched resources following a natural catastrophe

Recovery following a natural catastrophe is often complicated due to limited resources, including critical equipment and expertise. Supply chains may also be stretched. Organizations should consider what equipment, services, or supplies they expect to need post-event and line them up as part of their emergency plans.

Test your response and recovery plans before an event

Organizations should stress test their preparedness and continuity plans to identify and address potential showstoppers that will hinder their recovery following a catastrophic event. Preemptive changes and improvements can help enable a better recovery, especially considering the potential of a stronger 2024 Atlantic hurricane season with more frequent and more severe storms.

Data is critical to quantify potential losses and purchase adequate coverage

Statistical loss models can help organizations make more informed insurance coverage decisions, which is becoming increasingly critical amidst more challenging renewals and stricter lender or investor coverage requirements. 

About out speakers

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Robert Gall

US Chief Property Claims Officer

  • United States

Robert Gall is the US Chief Property Claims Officer at Marsh. In more than two decades at Marsh, he has worked with clients around the world to resolve a number of complex property damage and businesses interruption claims. Before joining Marsh, Rob held various management positions within the claims and underwriting departments at Arkwright and Factory Mutual, later known jointly as FM Global.

Neil Greaves

Neil Greaves

Managing Director, Claims Solutions Practice, Marsh

  • United Kingdom

Neil Greaves is a Managing Director in the Claims Solutions Practice, which primarily supports clients with the preparation and presentation of major loss claims. He was previously part of Marsh’s Claim Preparation Practice for 16 years. He is a Chartered Loss Adjuster with 35 years’ experience in the insurance industry and specializes in major property damage and business interruption losses.

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Richmond Wall

Head of Natural Hazards Consulting, Marsh Advisory

  • United States

Richmond Wall is the Head of Natural Hazards Consulting within Marsh Advisory. He leads Marsh’s CatDQ team, using his expertise in construction and engineering, to develop high-quality data for Marsh’s clients to use in modelling. He has 28 years of risk management engineering experience, specialising in catastrophic natural hazards consulting, business continuity planning, and property risk control.

Karl Bryant

Karl Bryant

Senior Vice President, Strategic Risk Consulting Practice, Marsh

  • United States

Karl Bryant is a Senior Engagement Lead in the Strategic Risk Consulting Practice. Based in Chicago, he is a global thought leader in the area of business continuity management and supply chain risk management. In this role, he is responsible for providing project delivery leadership, quality assurance, development, and implementation of business continuity programs, and supervising project teams. His expertise with complex accounts includes the design of both traditional and alternative recovery programs, blending supply chain risk analysis, property engineering programs and technology based continuity solutions.

Josh Darr

Josh Darr

Global Head of Peril Advisory, Guy Carpenter

  • United States

Josh Darr is the Global Head of Peril Advisory at Guy Carpenter where he leads a domestic and international team of seasoned scientists and engineers advising clients on natural catastrophe risk and climate change. His client efforts surround the impact of weather and climate trends on client business processes, catastrophe model usage, and applications for underwriting, claims handling, and portfolio management. In addition to responsibilities at Guy Carpenter, he is an Adjunct Professor at Northern Illinois University in the Department of Geography & Atmospheric Sciences.

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