When the market softened, Ridge didn’t follow the crowd. Here’s how discipline became their competitive edge.

In this episode, host Anthony Hess sits down with Greg Markell, President & CEO at Ridge Canada Cyber Solutions Inc., for a candid conversation on what it takes to build a sustainable cyber MGA.

Greg shares how Ridge has resisted the pull of chasing market share during soft cycles—maintaining its underwriting standards since 2020—and why he believes cyber risk transfer must be earned, not assumed. He unpacks Ridge’s strategy of building proprietary underwriting tools in-house, explains why AI is an efficiency enhancer (not a replacement for people), and introduces the company’s new “risk marketplace,” which helps brokers turn declines into actionable paths to coverage.


You’ll learn:

1. Why consistent underwriting is Ridge’s strategy for long-term profitability
2. Why cyber coverage should depend on client maturity, not market capacity
3. How Ridge balances internal tech and AI with human-led underwriting
4. What Ridge’s “risk marketplace” offers when clients aren’t ready for coverage
5. Why trusted vendor partnerships are core to a strong claims experience

___________


Get in touch with Greg Markell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmarkell/


___________


About the host Anthony Hess:
Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.

Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: ahess@asceris.com.

___________


Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us!

What if the biggest threat to your cyber claims portfolio isn’t ransomware—but a spreadsheet buried in someone’s inbox?

In this episode, host Anthony Hess chats with John Spiehs, Head of Claims at Converge, about what’s shifting in the cyber claims space—and what insurance professionals should have on their radar.

John breaks down how Converge is leading efforts to simplify Business Interruption (BI) claims with a cleaner, more intuitive, top-down approach. He also digs into the growing exposure around data privacy, where even small incidents can trigger costly class actions. Finally, he explains what’s getting lost as the market softens, why vendor relationships matter more than price tags, and the kind of talent today’s claims teams really need.


You'll learn:

1. Why BI claims are evolving, and how Converge is simplifying the process
2. Why data privacy and class actions are emerging as cyber’s new frontier
3. Why soft market dynamics threaten underwriting discipline
4. How poor email habits can explode breach costs overnight
5. What defines a strong vendor partnership, beyond cut-rate solutions

___________


Get in touch with John Spiehs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-s-b981337/


___________


About the host Anthony Hess:
Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.

Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: ahess@asceris.com.

___________


Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us!

Cyber insurers can’t just assess risk—they need to actively protect businesses from evolving threats.

In this episode, host Anthony Hess welcomes Daniel Woods, Principal Security Researcher at Coalition, to explore how cyber insurers can move beyond risk transfer and take an active role in cybersecurity. Daniel explains how Coalition’s mission-driven approach sets it apart, and why active insurance has an edge in an era of escalating threats.


You'll learn:

1. Why cyber insurers must go beyond risk assessment and actively protect policyholders
2. How web privacy litigation from the plaintiffs’ bar mirrors cybercriminal tactics
3. The biggest blind spots in systemic cyber risk, and why a privacy casualty catastrophe is worth thinking about
4. How insurers can build real-time risk mitigation into their coverage models
5. The future of cyber insurance: Where the industry is headed and how insurers can stay ahead

___________


Get in touch with Daniel Woods on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-woods-82555199/


___________


About the host Anthony Hess:
Anthony is passionate about cyber insurance. He is the CEO of Asceris, which supports clients to respond to cyber incidents quickly and effectively. Originally from the US, Anthony now lives in Europe with his wife and two children.

Get in touch with Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyhess/ or email: ahess@asceris.com.

___________


Thanks to our friends at SAWOO for producing this episode with us!