John Q. Doyle, President and CEO of Marsh, has stated that today’s geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainties create real opportunities for the firm to leverage its broad capabilities to help businesses navigate and thrive in challenging times.
Speaking with Bloomberg at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Doyle said that business leaders around the world must reconsider how they approach risk and strategy in the face of growing geopolitical uncertainty, as events in places like Venezuela, Iran and Greenland highlight shifting global dynamics.
“It’s a heightened period of risk. Broadly, it’s a geoeconomic confrontation that we’re watching unfold,” the CEO observed.
He continued, “We have about 100 people in Caracas. When events unfolded early this year, our first priority was ensuring their safety.
“It’s also an example of how business leaders need to think: immediately assess their assets across the Caribbean and Latin America for broader contagion or risks. We ran scenario planning and did similar work for our clients.
“Greenland, particularly regarding rare minerals, is an example, perhaps an extreme one, of conversations happening globally over the past couple of years.
“Many businesses have frameworks to assess opportunities and risks in today’s geopolitical environment. We work closely with clients across all our capabilities to help them invest with confidence, including financing those risks.
“We have products, capabilities, and advisory services for civil commotion, social unrest, and similar risks. Those products are in greater demand at the moment.”
Doyle noted that while this is an extraordinary moment in many ways, it also presents opportunities for businesses.
For Marsh, uncertainty reportedly creates real chances to help companies thrive, showcasing the full scope of its capabilities.
Doyle concluded, “We have big assets, and AI is a great example of both risk and opportunity. The heightened cyber risk from AI doesn’t get enough attention.
“Of course, AI also brings job dislocation, economic disruption, and business model disruption, but at the same time, it presents opportunities to reinvent work.
“I’m excited about that for our company, and we’re helping clients think through how to deploy these technologies in their workplaces.”
