NAME: Sandy Perdiguerra
NEW JOB TITLE: San Francisco-based West Coast underwriting manager, At-Bay Inc.
PREVIOUS POSITION: San Francisco-based West Coast underwriting manager, At-Bay Inc.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: The cyber market has evolved tremendously in the last five years, and were going to continue seeing highly sophisticated cybersecurity attacks. No industry is immune to these exploits. Ransomware, malware, social engineering, brute-force attacks, cloud computing and software vulnerabilities are all very prevalent in our world today. I truly believe the cyber insurers that collaborate with insureds to mitigate risk will stand out as more than just an insurance provider.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: I have already begun to build a great team that, I believe, will set the standard in this new way of underwriting. We embrace the use of technology to help drive quality underwriting decisions while delivering profitable growth and building a sustainable future at At-Bay.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: Our jobs as cyber underwriters are becoming increasingly difficult because were expected to be subject matter experts in a highly technical line of business, and our broker partners face similar challenges. Im fortunate to be a part of At-Bay, where we have invested since the beginning in our proprietary technology and our in-house technical team to help underwriters navigate through complex risks.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: I started out in private D&O and, six months in, I was handed one of the largest renewals for the region. It was a high-profile account with public debt, so not a typical straightforward private company deal. A tremendous amount of underwriting and preparation was required before the client meeting. I was fascinated by how much I learned about this Fortune 500 company during that hour. I left that meeting knowing that I could carve out a career in underwriting because I enjoyed it.
ADVICE: Insurance is a great industry to build your career. I’ve met some of the most successful and intelligent people in this field. As a newcomer, my advice would be to have the desire to learn. Be curious. Ask questions. Ive had the privilege of surrounding myself with people who help shape my career. Cultivate those relationships and stay connected.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Elementary school teacher
COLLEGE MAJOR: Business management
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Im looking forward to working alongside people who are as passionate as I am about making At-Bay a great success. Our goal is to change the way insureds think when selecting a cyber insurer. Breadth of coverage, cost and claim reputation will always be considered, but Im not sure if thats enough for insureds who are looking to their cyber insurers for additional resources and solutions. We are constantly exploring new ways to improve the insurance experience for our buyers and trading partners, which is why Im excited about the opportunity to be truly innovative.
FAVOURITE MEAL: This is hard because I have so many favorites, especially living in San Francisco, where Im exposed to such wonderful cuisine. But if I had to, I would pick anything with seafood: sushi, Frutti di Mare, and crab boil are all delicious.
BOOK: Stieg Larssons Millennium Trilogy. I love suspense and crime thrillers.
HOBBIES: I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, and yoga.
TV SHOW: Schitts Creek
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Cook for my children
