QBE Insurance Group - QBIEY STOCK NEWS

QBE North America has appointed Lauren Finnis as Senior Vice President of Distribution, based in Chicago. Finnis will focus on delivering customer strategic priorities and strengthening distribution channels to support growth and improve broker and customer data insights. She joins from Willis Towers Watson, where she served as Head of Commercial Lines in their insurance consulting and technology practice.

With experience across distribution, underwriting, pricing, and claims, Finnis has worked with both insurance carriers and brokerage firms. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree in accountancy from Vanderbilt University. According to Julie Minor, Global Head of Distribution, Finnis's expertise will help enhance trading relationships across QBE's Specialty and Commercial businesses in North America.

Gravity Water has won the 2024 QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, receiving a $100,000 prize for their innovative rainwater harvesting technology that addresses water security and climate resilience. Selected from over 740 entrepreneurs across 70 countries, the organization was chosen following a boot camp and evaluation by representatives from prestigious institutions.

The solution aims to help communities at risk of natural disasters safely collect and manage rainwater, providing access to self-sufficient drinking water. Gravity Water also won the 2024 Proptech Track and one of two $25,000 People's Choice awards. The QBE AcceliCITY program has become one of the world's largest initiatives of its kind, with alumni raising over $1 billion to improve urban resilience.

QBE North America and Zywave have released their 2024 Cyber Insurance Report, revealing key insights into cyber insurance trends. The survey, conducted among 156 risk professionals and insurance buyers, shows that over 80% of respondents carry cyber insurance, with risk transfer identified as the primary benefit. However, only 40% utilize additional risk management services provided in their policies.

Key findings include:

• 60% of respondents experienced a cyber event
• 83% value breach response services
• 73% appreciate incident response planning and support
• 72% of corporate risk managers are involved in cyber risk purchasing decisions
• Less than 40% of Chief Information Security Officers participate in purchasing decisions

The report highlights the need for improved engagement and awareness of value-added services to enhance cyber resilience.

QBE North America has extended its support for Blue Forest, a conservation finance nonprofit, through November 15, 2024. The QBE Possibilities Fund will match donations up to $200,000 for philanthropic impact investments of at least $100 directed to Blue Forest's FRB Catalyst Facility via the CataCap platform. This initiative aims to promote climate resilience, racial equity, and gender equality.

The challenge grant is open to the public and QBE employees, introducing CataCap's capability to a broader audience. Philanthropic impact investing allows donors to generate social or environmental benefits alongside financial returns. Investment returns can be reinvested or granted to nonprofits. QBE Foundation has supported Blue Forest since 2022 with grants and philanthropic impact investments, aligning with QBE's purpose of enabling a more resilient future.

QBE North America has launched a pioneering initiative allowing employees to participate in philanthropic impact investments through the CataCap platform and ImpactAssets donor-advised fund. A pilot group of 100 employees can invest $1,000 each, seeded by the QBE Possibilities Fund, into opportunities focused on climate resilience, racial equity, and gender equality.

Employees can add their own funds, which are tax-deductible and eligible for a QBE Foundation match. Any returns flow back into donor-advised accounts for reinvestment. This initiative makes impact investing accessible to all employees, not just high-net-worth individuals. After the pilot, all QBE North America employees can build impact investment portfolios with minimum donations of $100.

QBE Insurance, a global insurer operating in 27 countries, has launched QCyberProtect, a comprehensive and globally consistent cyber policy designed to enhance cyber resilience for clients worldwide. The policy covers losses from current and emerging cyber risks, including network security, privacy liability, IT and non-IT business interruptions, and reputational loss.

QCyberProtect caters to a range of organizations, from mid-sized companies to global corporations. Alongside the insurance coverage, QBE is implementing QCyberPrepare, a cyber saferoom for incident response planning. QCyberProtect is currently available in 10 countries, with plans to expand throughout the year.

As the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season begins, QBE North America urges businesses to enhance their storm preparedness. Forecasters predict an 'extremely active' season with 23 named storms, 11 potential hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes. Monique McQueen, VP of Property Claims at QBE, emphasizes the need for robust readiness plans to safeguard employees, property, and assets. Recommendations include maintaining disaster response plans, securing essential supplies, training staff on utility safety, storing goods off the floor, assessing rooftop equipment, reviewing insurance coverage, securing essential records off-site, keeping updated inventory logs, and preparing for power outages. Ted Cabaniss, AVP of Risk Solutions at QBE, highlights the importance of strategic actions post-storm, leveraging insurance expertise, and utilizing resources like FEMA's Ready Business Hurricane Toolkit to navigate challenges and ensure business continuity.

QBE North America announced that 100 Smart City solutions have advanced to the next stage of the AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, out of more than 740 entries from 70 countries. The competition, now in its sixth year with Leading Cities, supports global entrepreneurs addressing urban risks, equity, and sustainability. Smart City Track winners could receive up to $150,000 for city pilot projects, along with publicity, mentoring, and online courses. This year, two specialized tracks are also included: Proptech and Humanitarian. The former focuses on loss mitigation in property insurance, while the latter addresses climate adaptation through collaboration with the Australian Red Cross. Selected entries propose solutions in clean water, renewable energy, urban agriculture, and climate adaptation. Participants will engage in a six-month curriculum and a boot camp to compete further for funding.

QBE North America has announced a new program partnership with Catalytic Risk Managers & Insurance Agency, a division of DUAL North America. The Builders Risk program will offer construction All Risk coverage for builders risk projects on a non-admitted basis. This partnership aims to provide customers with tailored builders risk solutions. James Haggerty, Head of Commercial Programs at QBE North America, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the unique coverage needs it will address. Jon Knouse, Chief Property Officer of DUAL North America, highlighted the enhanced expertise and opportunities this partnership brings to the construction market. Catalytic Claims Services will handle claims for the program. The collaboration aims to expand QBE's builders risk portfolio and reaffirm their commitment to comprehensive solutions.