NAME: Lester Pierre
NEW JOB TITLE: Philadelphia-based broker, chief technology officer/chief information security officer, Protecdiv Inc.
PREVIOUS POSITION: New York-based technology provider, chief technology officer, Wall Street Network Inc.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: My introduction, in the late-80s, into the insurance industry was driven by innovation and hasnt changed since. The solutions and capabilities have drastically improved, but the mission of innovation has not, to this day. Therefore, my viewpoint is that technology will continue to shape the insurance experience in the industry while leaving intact the essentials of insurance.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: Innovation, innovation and innovation. The CEOs vision is to leverage process, technology and diversity into the DNA of the organization. For me, this means, innovating to support a workforce of teleworkers, clients and business partners in brokering commercial insurance, reinsurance and mortgage risk transfer.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: From my perspective, technology adoption and diversity in the workforce has been a challenge since entering the industry. It is generally known that women and minorities are underrepresented at senior levels in the industry. Investments in insurtech companies will certainly help to further the role of tech for disruption and innovation.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: The designing and programming of an agency management system for Aetna in Hartford, Connecticut. They became one of the first insurers to improve the ability to directly transact business with agencies, system to system. Providing mid-range computers to transact with the IBM mainframes, at the time, was innovative.
ADVICE: From a technology perspective, you must think outside the box. Internet of things, cloud computing, information security, machine learning and artificial intelligence have their role to play in the industry. That said, how they can be used to improve the insurance process and experience.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Coaching basketball or baseball at the collegiate level.
COLLEGE MAJOR: Mathematics
LOOKING FORWARD TO: A blank canvas to build the technology infrastructure.
FAVOURITE MEAL: Sushi and sashimi
BOOK: The Bible
HOBBIES: Youth baseball/softball training, coaching and umpiring, outdoor activities and living.
TV SHOW: When I do watch, I like to laugh, and Impractical Jokers does the trick.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Reading or being somewhere on the baseball field.
