Risk in Context Podcast

Climate risks continue to increase in complexity, underscoring the urgent need to address their impacts through a strong focus on adaptation and resilience. At the same time, innovative insurance products and financing are helping climate and resilience investments become more accessible and viable. Last month's COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, underscored the importance of accelerating adaptation and resilience efforts, given recognition of climate change as a present reality demanding immediate solutions. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Graeme Riddell, Nick Faull, and Rodrigo Suárez, and Marsh McLennan's Swenja Surminski discuss key takeaways from COP30, focusing on the implications and opportunities for risk managers navigating the complex challenges of climate adaptation and resilience. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Listen to our recent podcast, Unpacking water-related economic risks and solutions. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Social inflation is transcending borders and creating challenges for organizations operating in jurisdictions across the globe, often resulting in increased litigation risks and higher claims costs, which are, in turn, contributing to increased underwriter scrutiny and impacting organizations' insurance programs. This underscores the importance of preemptive action to identify potentially challenging claims and mitigate losses. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Chetna Gulati, Catherine Osborne, Teri Solomon, and Paul Hutchinson discuss the evolving social inflation risk landscape, address some of today's most pressing risks and the challenges that are likely to evolve, and share actionable insights to help organizations minimize the risk of social inflation and prepare for potential high-value claims. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For further information about social inflation, visit our social inflation and nuclear verdicts hub. Listen to our recent podcast — PFAS risks and insurability challenges — to learn more about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which could be a risk area for social inflation. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

As private equity activity regains momentum after a prolonged period of low exit volumes and extended holding periods, it is critical for PE firms to remain vigilant and focus on identifying and addressing potential risks. Human capital considerations, tailored insurance solutions, and innovative transactional risk insurance can help PE firms navigate challenges to help safeguard value and optimize returns. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Paul Knowles, Katie Gensheimer, Philipp Giessen, and Mercer's Dhruv Mehra discuss the current private equity landscape and its impact on exit strategies, the people-related issues that funds should consider in their exit strategy, and the insurance solutions that can help firms mitigate risks. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Parametric insurance has become a critical tool for managing risks, generally providing organizations with a transparent, data-driven risk financing solution. Its defined triggers generally lead to faster and more predictable payouts compared to traditional indemnity insurance. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Steve Harry and Hannah Bassett explore how parametric insurance is evolving. They discuss practical applications that enable organizations to better anticipate and respond to both established and emerging risks, highlighting opportunities to integrate parametric solutions into captive insurance programs for more tailored and flexible risk management. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

The global focus on climate resilience is evolving to emphasize adaptation alongside mitigation, a key theme highlighted at this year's Climate Week NYC. This is fueling increased demand for comprehensive risk management strategies that integrate advanced analytics and innovative insurance solutions to address escalating climate risks.  In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Amy Barnes and Julie Milbrand, Marsh McLennan's Francis Bouchard, and Guy Carpenter's Kieran Bhatia discuss how the insurance industry is advancing technical capabilities and innovating solutions to tackle rising climate risks. They also explore how improved climate risk analytics are enhancing investment decisions and the critical role of multi-stakeholder collaboration in accelerating the adoption of effective resilience measures. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Read Marsh's 2025 Corporate Adaptation Survey and our report, Tackling the heat challenge. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Organizations in real estate and hospitality are facing an increasingly complex risk landscape, from rising catastrophic exposures to operational and cybersecurity challenges. These sectors, while both asset-heavy, encounter distinct risks that require tailored and agile risk management strategies. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Duncan Ellis and Brian Taliaferro explore the evolving and unique risk environments for real estate and hospitality companies and share key risk mitigation strategies to help these businesses stay resilient amid current and emerging threats. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Register for our Real Estate and Hospitality Conference. Read more about the impacts of social inflation and nuclear verdicts here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Organizations continue to face an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape. Amid ongoing geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions and supply chain disruptions, a robust and comprehensive cyber risk management strategy can help businesses mitigate risks and improve resiliency. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh McLennan's Dan Bowden speaks with Marsh's Helen Nuttall and Matt Berninger about the importance of reviewing and reinforcing cyber controls to help minimize cyber exposures and uncertainty and better protecting their people, finances, and operations from cyber threats. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Read Cybersecurity Signals, Connecting Controls and Incident Outcomes and The 2025 OT Security Financial Risk Report. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Organizations across various industries are increasingly seeking to harness generative AI's capabilities to enhance productivity and operational efficiency. But while generative AI technologies can provide organizations with multiple opportunities, there are also risks unless integration is carried out with caution. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Gregory Eskins and Mercer's Adriana O'Kain discuss the multiple opportunities that generative AI presents, look at how the use of these technologies is evolving, and provide actions that senior leaders should consider to address technical, process, and people implications. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Read our series on debunking AI-generated myths. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Extreme heat, characterized by sustained periods of unusually high temperatures, poses significant health, economic, and social challenges globally, impacting people, infrastructure, and businesses worldwide. To effectively mitigate the risks associated with extreme heat, organizations must be proactive in how they prepare for, adapt to, and manage current and future heat-related challenges. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Jack Watt, Marsh McLennan's Swenja Surminski, Mercer's Tracy Watts, and Rachael Barza from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development discuss some of the challenges associated with extreme heat, as well as risk adaptation and explore management strategies that organizations should consider. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Read our report, Turning down the heat. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

As they become more interconnected, global supply chains can be impacted by a wide range of risks. Whether it's geopolitical and geoeconomic conflicts, including the introduction of tariffs and counter-tariffs, natural catastrophes, or climate change, this web of risks can cause disruptions that lead to delays, shortages, and increased costs. The complexity and fragility of supply chains is often compounded by limited visibility into upstream suppliers, making it difficult to assess potential vulnerabilities and respond proactively. In this episode of Risk in Context, Karl Bryant, Amy Barnes, John Davies, and Jason Brewer discuss the wide range of challenges that could disrupt supply chains and some of the actions that senior leaders should consider to mitigate evolving and emerging supply chain risks. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to degradation — have come under increased scrutiny due to concerns about their environmental and human health impacts. This underscores the importance of robust risk management strategies and securing appropriate insurance coverage to address the evolving regulatory environment. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Kimberly Mann, Nicolas Dzubanowski, Matthew Kerr, and Chuck Moran discuss some of the main PFAS-related risks that organizations across industries and geographies are facing. They also talk about some of the insurability challenges and share actions that organizations should consider taking to address this evolving risk. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Visit our dedicated page on marsh.com to learn more about the potential impacts of social inflation. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Supporting the increased global demand for energy in a sustainable way requires investment, innovation, and robust talent strategies that meet the growing need for skilled professionals across both traditional and renewable energy sectors. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Amy Barnes, Andrew Lowther, and Tariq Khattab and Mercer's Milan Taylor discuss the people-related challenges that the energy and power industry is facing and share actions that senior leaders should consider in order to manage these risks and satisfy increasing appetites for energy. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Download the Management of organizational change: Minimum staffing report. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

As they adapt to shifting investor expectations and a changing deal flow, many private capital firms are returning to fundamentals, focusing on risk management and value creation. They are also prioritizing enhanced exit planning and geographical diversification, with Europe becoming a focal point for many PE firms. This is happening at a time when consolidation among various stakeholders is reshaping the industry and providing new avenues for risk management and investment opportunities. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Emily Almond, Oliver Wyman's John Romeo, and Mercer's Tamsin Coleman discuss some of the top risks that private equity firms should be aware of and share strategies for addressing them effectively. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

From diverse regulatory environments to varying local policies, multinational organizations with a presence in multiple countries face considerable business and risk management challenges. These are further exacerbated when confronted by a significant loss. To enhance resilience, these companies must identify insurance coverage issues, adapt their programs, and implement jurisdiction-specific risk management plans that address local challenges. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Rory MacLeay, Adrian Sargent, Diana Accordi, and Javier Llorente Gonzalez discuss some of the risks that multinational organizations need to be aware of and be prepared to navigate, as well as actions that senior leaders should consider to improve country-specific risk management strategies and improve their global insurance programs. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Despite wide recognition of water's essential role, water-related risks are increasing. Whether dealing with droughts or flooding, water can lead to significant challenges for individuals, communities, and businesses, requiring a robust water management strategy that identifies the risks, puts hazard mitigation actions in place, and leverages insurance as a final layer of protection. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh McLennan's Swenja Surminski and Daniel Kaniewski and Henk Ovink, Executive Director and Founding Commissioner for the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, discuss some of the water-related risks that businesses and communities are facing and examine risk management strategies that can enhance resilience and sustainability. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Visit Marsh's Hurricane Resource Center to learn more about preparing for and responding to tropical storms. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

From geopolitical tensions, to extreme weather events, to the risks of widespread AI adoption, businesses today are navigating a complex landscape of rapidly evolving and interconnected risks. Navigating these risks requires organizations to reassess their risk management strategies, particularly in light of the increasing fragmentation of the global environment. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh McLennan's Carolina Klint, Marsh's Reid Sawyer, and Mercer's Graham Pierce discuss several short- and long-term risks that organizations are facing, including ones outlined in this year's Global Risks Report. Marsh's James Crask and Spiros Fatouros also discuss pressing challenges that senior leaders are facing. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

In today's global risk landscape, supply chains are under increased pressure from multiple sources. The recent implementation of tariffs and counter-tariffs have given rise to concerns about price increases for businesses across a wide range of industries. But insufficient visibility is hampering organizations' ability to identify potential issues beyond their immediate suppliers, leaving them vulnerable to hidden risks and disruptions. In this episode of Risk in Context, John Davies, Commercial Director for Marsh McLennan's Sentrisk, speaks with Marsh's James Crask, Lisa Caldwell, and Charlotte van Bouwel about the various risks that can impact supply chains. They discuss the visibility challenges that can hinder organizations' ability to identify hidden risks and share actions that can help senior leaders mitigate these challenges and build more resilient supply chains.    You can access a transcript of the episode here. To learn more about Sentrisk, and how it can help you uncover hidden supply chain vulnerabilities, visit our dedicated page, where you can request a demo. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

Organizations are facing significant challenges in the casualty risk landscape due to heightened litigation, longer claim cycles, and rising jury verdicts. To navigate this environment, senior leaders must proactively manage risks by minimizing incidents and addressing problematic claims early, leveraging data-driven insights to reduce catastrophic losses and refine risk strategies. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Chetna Gulati Kapoor, Luke Harrison, and Matthew Replogle share effective strategies that organizations should consider to control their casualty risks and discuss actions that senior leaders can take to optimize their casualty insurance program in line with evolving and emerging risks. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Visit our dedicated page on marsh.com to learn more about the impacts that outsized jury verdicts could have on your organization. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com.

The energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation that necessitates collaboration among stakeholders, including traditional and non-traditional energy companies, and insurers to effectively identify and address the multifaceted risk that can disrupt the energy transition. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Amy Barnes, Andrew Herring, and Mike Kolodner, discuss the numerous risks that energy and power organizations face and the important role of the insurance industry in helping these businesses address their risks and continue to innovate. They also share some of the key learnings from last month's CERAWeek. You can access a transcript of the episode here. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com

A resurgence of global mergers and acquisitions, that reflects heightened investor confidence and a return to normalcy in the transactional risk market, is accompanied by increased demand for transactional risk insurance solutions. At the same time, increased competition among insurers and more knowledgeable insurance buyers are leading to the creation of broader coverage options and tailored solutions to meet diverse needs across industries and regions. In this episode of Risk in Context, Marsh's Craig Schioppo, Alistair Lowry, David Lillo, Haoren Fu, and Eliza Grant discuss the changes taking place in the continuously evolving transactional risk markets, highlight some of the transactional trends in different regions, and consider how these trends could shape the future of the transactional risk insurance market. You can access a transcript of the episode here. Download the Transactional risk insurance 2024: Year in review report. For more insights and insurance and risk management solutions, follow Marsh on LinkedIn and X and visit marsh.com