WSIA 2022 board president talks industry trends
The capacity crisis and cybersecurity challenges frame the current surplus lines industry, says Gorst & Compass President Bryan Clark.
Bryan Clark built a lasting insurance career by focusing on the needs of people, developing up-and-coming talent, and embracing changing business headwinds such as the advent of more sophisticated customer-management and risk-assessment technology.
It follows that while many business professionals embraced remote work in recent years, Clark, who is president of Gorst & Compass and also served as president of the 2022 Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) board of directors, still enjoys going to the office to immerse himself in the insurance world and various projects that not only benefit his business but the industry as a whole.
Time away from work for this California native is often spent on the golf course or traveling with family.
PropertyCasualty360 recently caught up with Clark to hear more about his take on the state of the specialty insurance sector in advance of WSIA’s 2022 Annual Marketplace.
PC360: What, in your opinion, are the most notable trends impacting the current wholesale, excess and surplus lines insurance market/?
Clark: The capacity crisis and cybersecurity are two that really stick out. Our industry is having incredible growth again in 2022 as the hard market continues.
PC360: What has been the high point of your tenure as WSIA board president/?
Clark: It’s been great to see the organization’s focus on talent development through outreach to universities and the internship program. WSIA is reaching more and more students, not just through internships but through its Diversity Foundation work as well.
We’ve done a lot of great work this year around the DE&I movement. For example, the association partnered with CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, and our members have access to so many DE&I resources now.
Most of all, I love collaborating with the other great leaders on the WSIA board. It’s rewarding to be part of such an amazing team.
PC360: What are you most looking forward to at the 2022 WSIA Annual Marketplace?
Clark: It’s always great to be with friends and colleagues at this event. The networking capabilities are off the chart; especially this year as we expect to have record attendance with more than 6,000 people registered.
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