Gillin takes MD role as Aon looks to build out US cyber reinsurance practice

Brian Gillin has been appointed managing director for cyber in the US at Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions, taking on the role after 13 years working on the retail side of Aon’s business.

Gillin reports to David Grigg, executive managing director for the US cyber team at Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions.

“My role as a managing director is ultimately to help shape better cyber decisions for Aon clients, and includes continuing to build out the US team, continuing to build out the book of business, and collaborating with UK colleagues to generate optimal outcomes, all while leveraging our extensive analytics capabilities,” Gillin explained to Cyber Risk Insurer.

Gillin stressed that a big focus for Aon’s cyber reinsurance segment is to continue building out its brand in the US. He noted that Aon has a “very robust UK team” for cyber reinsurance, and that there will be a focus on continuing to grow the US resources.

“We are really trying to drive greater connectivity, awareness and growth in the US,” he said.

Following four years as a practicing attorney focused on copyright and trademark law, Gillin joined Aon in 2011 within its Financial Services Group.

He focused on management liability for three years before joining the Cyber Solutions practice. Most recently he led the East region in the practice, overseeing colleagues in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Florida.

Gillin said that he will be able to bring his expertise and network to help build out the US reinsurance segment further. This includes having more holistic relationships.

“I’m able to bring the relationships that I’ve built on the retail side, such as with the heads of insurers’ tech E&O and cyber practices, and over time leverage those relationships to achieve new collaborations and successful outcomes,” he said.

Clients on the retail side are consistently struggling to address limit adequacy, Gillin noted.

“There’s that million-dollar question around, ‘How big is our cyber exposure, and how should we be thinking about buying insurance to protect the organisation?’ So on that side of the business, continuing to evolve analytics and data to bring clarity and confidence to support better decision-making around how to purchase insurance is going to be key,” he said.

To support Gillin’s viewpoint, Aon recently launched its new Cyber Risk Analyzer, a digital platform that simulates loss scenarios, incorporates an exposure assessment and provides clients with an annual total cost of risk analysis to help determine limit adequacy.

And on the reinsurance side, Gillin said that a key issue is continuing to understand the threat environment across a portfolio.

“It is about understanding how catastrophic systemic risk, single points of failure and supply chain risk could affect a portfolio. Is an insurer’s viewpoint of that risk accurate? Are their concerns excessive, or are they underplayed?” he said.

“So obtaining better data and developing more robust analytics to help support the biggest threat environments are going to continue to be key. Aon will continue to invest in our data and analytics to answer those questions, and be at the forefront of how those exposures are changing,” he continued.