As geopolitical and macroeconomic trends reshape an increasingly risky world, and reinsurance pricing comes off of its peak in numerous lines of business, there’s a clear need for rationality, with plenty of opportunity for underwriters to continue to achieve profitable growth, according to David Flandro of Howden Re.
Reinsurance News recently spoke with Flandro, Managing Director, Head of Industry Analysis and Strategic Advisory at Howden Re, for our latest video interview, now available to watch in full, just weeks after the reinsurance broker released its comprehensive January 1st, 2026, renewal report.
During the interview, Flandro discussed the opportunities and risks that could emerge from what Howden Re describes as a period of re-balancing, highlighting the important focus on geopolitics and macroeconomics as these trends are a big part of what’s happening in the commercial insurance and reinsurance market.
“So, it’s really appropriate, because you don’t want to look at the insurance and reinsurance sectors in a vacuum right now. You want that macro fundamental view, because that may be actually what drives supply and demand going forward,” he said.
Flandro also dived into the growth outlook for segments beyond traditional lines such as cyber, renewables, and data centres, saying that it will be interesting to see what happens to demand for coverage as these areas grow in prominence.
We also discussed the alternative, or third-party capital space on the back of another record breaking year for catastrophe bond issuance in 2025, and the foray of the insurance-linked securities (ILS) space into areas like casualty.
As explored in Howden Re’s re-balancing renewal report, competition has increased in the reinsurance segment as supply outpaced demand at 1.1, and with an abundance of capacity, Flandro emphasised the need for brokers to be multifaceted.
“So, it’s treaty, fac, strategic advisory, capital markets, and finally, MGAs… So, just at a minimum, brokers have to bring all five of those things to the table, in addition to all of the other consultancies that we undertake. But that’s an important part of the story, more so than it was 10 years ago for sure,” he said.
To hear more from Flandro on these topics and other trends currently reshaping the re/insurance market, watch the full video interview, which is embedded below.
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