NAME: Deuayne Crawford
NEW JOB TITLE: New York-based head of cyber, Northeast region, Axa XL, a division of Axa SA
PREVIOUS POSITION: New York-based underwriting manager, Ironshore, a Liberty Mutual company
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: I have a positive outlook on the cyber industry despite its infancy as a product compared with the age of other insurance products. I think more innovation is coming in the fight against ransomware, for example. Clients, insurers, brokers and other stakeholders in the cyber insurance ecosystem are going to be more intentional about using their minds collectively to be successful in the industry. Despite my eagerness for more and new information related to cyber, I take a humble approach to the cyber insurance underwriting because I know there are things that I havent learned yet.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: I plan to promote collaboration and teamwork. I think we are most effective when we work together and support one another. I think this will drive customer service excellence. I also want to use our current and future technologies to make our jobs easier including sharing technology ideas and best practices to make the underwriting process more seamless. I have so many personal stories and examples of how we made processes easier with solutions that already exist in our current technologies. Im going to promote a culture where we purposely share ideas with one another. Im fortunate because this type of culture already exists on our team.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: One of the biggest challenges is limited awareness of the dangers that can come through the internet. In an ideal world, everyone would know not to click on any suspicious emails. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your coworkers, tell anyone you know and care about to avoid falling victim to ransomware or any internet scam. Spreading the word will raise awareness, therefore limiting one major vector of cyberattacks, for example.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: I started my insurance experience working at American International Group Inc. after a company executive at the time referred me for an underwriting analyst job after meeting him on the golf course while caddying. We are still friends today. Im glad I met him and got a chance to know about this cool industry.
ADVICE: My advice for any newcomer in the industry is to be positive. Listen to the perspective of others. Be empathetic. Keep learning. Have fun.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: I would have loved to become a professional golfer. I have been practicing a lot over the last 20 years and have not improved much, so golf also keeps me humble. I like the game mainly because it endorses brotherhood and respect. It also brought some really good friends into my life.
COLLEGE MAJOR: As an undergraduate at SUNY Binghamton, I earned a dual major in financial economics and English. In graduate school at Boston University, I earned a Masters degree in insurance management. I also thought it was relevant to get CPCU and RPLU+ insurance designations, which have impacted my career positively.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Im looking forward to collaborating with my team, listening to everyone and sharing ideas. Im looking forward to more education and more innovation.
FAVOURITE MEAL: After immersing myself in New York for so many years I was born on the island of Jamaica its difficult to choose a favorite meal today because there are so many great dishes out there from so many awesome places around the world. If I were to choose a favorite, though, Id say Jamaican jerk chicken. Its so good that I can have it for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just for a snack.
BOOK: My favorite book is Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. Its a very old book that I read in high school. I could relate to the main character Pip having and appreciating his anonymous benefactor funding his education. Similarly, I benefited from sponsorship, scholarship and mentorship from many people in my life that did not look like me.
HOBBIES: My hobbies include golfing, reading cyber articles, hanging out with family and friends and spending a lot of time with my wife, Adreena, and son, Ethan. I also love to give back to my community and mentor people, including people who look like me and people who look different than me.
TV SHOW: I wish I had more time to watch TV. I like Shark Tank. I love Marvel films. I also like shows on A&E and the History Channel.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: We often go for walks. My wife and our son love to walk in our neighborhood. We walk an average of 3 miles per day and do it two to three times per week.
