Notes from the Advisen European D&O Insights Conference in London

By Kevin LaCroix on November 21, 2014

The D&O Diary was in London this week to attend and participate in the Advisen European Insights Conference, which took place on Wednesday at the Willis Building, located conveniently across Lime Street from the Lloyd’s Building. The picture to the left was taken on Lime Street, with the Lloyd’s Building on the left, the Willis Building on the right, and in between and down the street, the Gherkin (30 St. Mary Axe). The Advisen event was interesting and well-attended, and drew attendees not only from the London market, but from the European continent as well.

Among other things, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel entitled “It’s Getting Personal: The Growing Focus on Individual Accountability,” that was chaired by my good friend Francis Kean of Willis. Here is a post-session photo of the panel. From left to right, Francis Kean, Willis; Noona Barlow, AIG; Victoria Watson, QBE; and me.

I also moderated a panel entitled “Privacy and Network Security Issues for Directors and Officers.” The panel (of which, unfortunately I did not get a picture) included Neil Arklie of Swiss Re; Cris Baez of QBE; Julia Graham of DLA Piper; and Geoff While of Barbican.

The conference also afforded a great opportunity to see old friends and industry colleagues. In the first picture below, I am standing with my former colleague and good friend Giovanni Fanizza of Gen Re (Madrid) and Cris Baez (QBE, Paris), and in the second picture, I am standing with Tim Walsh of Advisen; Enrico Nanni of AON; and Chris Warrior of Hiscox.

The two following pictures were taken from the twenty-second floor of the Willis Building. The first picture was taken looking west, with the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the center. The second picture was taken looking east. with Tower Bridge visible in the center, crossing the river.

It was a pleasure to be in London this week. As Samuel Johnson famously said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.”

More pictures of London:

Trafalgar Square: