ICEYE, a builder and operator its own commercial constellation of SAR satellites, has named Lisa Wardlaw as Global Head of Insurance Solutions, and Daniel Stander as a Senior Advisor.
The company owns and operates the largest synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) constellation in the world and offers solutions focused on the unique needs of government and the insurance sector.
In her new role, Wardlaw will lead the firm’s efforts to deliver natural catastrophe data solutions to help accelerate the digital transformation of the global insurance sector.
She joins ICEYE from Farmers Insurance, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group, where she served as Chief Strategic Financial Officer. Previously, she served as Global Digital Strategy & Transformation Officer for Global Reinsurance at Munich Re.
Commenting on her new role, Wardlaw said: “This is an incredible time to be joining ICEYE. Our priority is to deliver on ICEYE’s mission to make the impossible possible for our insurance customers. We have a huge opportunity; the ability to combine capabilities that never existed before in ways that will help transform the insurance industry. ICEYE is already helping its clients cover and respond to natural catastrophes in new and innovative ways.
“It’s an incredible innovation challenge. With groundbreaking capabilities and a laser focus on the needs of the insurance value chain, we are reimagining traditional norms and business models in ways that are strategically important.”
Stander, who has been named as a Senior Advisor, currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the United Nations on matters of risk finance, as well as Deputy Chair of the Resilient Cities Network.
“The insurance industry has long demanded faster access to accurate, actionable insights – especially in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic event. Properly integrated into the insurance ecosystem, ICEYE’s data can drive efficiencies, improve responsiveness, and ultimately enhance coverage and service to those in need.
“A key part of my advisory role for ICEYE is meeting with insurers, reinsurers, brokers and loss adjusters, refining how ICEYE can bridge the data gap with timely access to critical hazard and damage data. The initial feedback from the market has been hugely encouraging,” said Stander.
So far this year, ICEYE says that it has tracked more than 450 potential flood events around the world, imaged more than 350 potential events, and analysed over 30 flood events which each spanned a total area of at least 20,000 km2.
Charles Blanchet, ICEYE’s Vice President of Solutions, added: “At ICEYE, we are fully committed to collaborating with the re/insurance sector to help transform how it predicts, prevents and responds to catastrophic events. A core part of that is investing in market-leading talent; executives who lead with authenticity, who bring deep domain expertise and a relentless client focus. I couldn’t be happier with today’s announcement.
“Daniel’s guidance so far has been invaluable to the leadership team at ICEYE. Lisa, a pioneer of digital innovation in the insurance market, will in her new role doubtless continue to help reinvent the industry she loves. Nobody is as committed as ICEYE to transforming the insurance value chain with persistent monitoring. Today’s announcement demonstrates that commitment.”
