Meet Charlotte Sampson, Delegated Underwriting Technical Manager
What’s you back story?
Having started in the industry at the age of 18 with little idea of what I wanted to do in my career, it didn’t take me long to realise how much I loved the market, the people, and the many insurance stories which you can relate to your everyday life.
I started as an underwriting assistant but quickly moved into contract certainty, then into delegated underwriting. I am now a technical manager, which involves much more onboarding than earlier in my career –we are currently onboarding 15 MGAs and have around 250 live delegated facilities. My job is about making sure that every MGA is appropriate for us, that they have the relevant experience and that they’re licensed to write that sort of business. We have to assess the key staff that they’ve named to make sure they’re suitable. I bring together all the necessary signoffs to give underwriting authority.
Tell us about an initiative at Sompo that you are most excited for in 2022.
Delegated authority is a key element of Sompo’s on-going growth strategy but bringing entities on can be time-consuming; we need to be thorough and stringent when we do our checks, making sure we meet regulatory requirements. However, if the process takes too long, we risk losing relationships and business to a company that can do it quicker. A major focus for us at the moment is implementing a new delegated authority system that allows us to conduct continuing due diligence, streamlining the process and making it easier, without compromising on quality. It is great being at a company that is putting technology at the forefront of its strategy. This will not only improve efficiency in our workplace but has clear benefits for our clients.
What advice do you have for prospective Sompo candidates?
My advice would be to be ready for change–we are a relatively new company that is growing at a rapid rate, with changes happening all the time. It means that there is never a chance to be bored and you will be a part of something fresh and new. Our biggest asset is that we are a truly global firm –it is One Sompo across the world. That gives us range, but it also makes us a dynamic, interesting company to be a part of.
What is your idea of a perfect day outside of the office?
My perfect day outside the office would be spending time with my family and friends. Usually, it involves taking my kids to and from various activities, lunching and keeping active with our dog.