
The Voice of Insurance Ep242 Martin Burke CUO MS Amlin: Walking a squiggly career path through the market
Feb 18, 2025
Martin Burke, Chief Underwriting Officer at MS Amlin, shares insights from his unique career journey in the insurance industry. He discusses how major loss events influence market behavior and the critical role of technology and AI in modern underwriting. Martin emphasizes the importance of adaptability in his path to success, detailing the need for balanced portfolios amid fluctuating markets. He also touches on the significance of diversity and inclusion, along with innovative loss mitigation strategies that can enhance profitability and resilience.
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Early Career Inspiration
- Martin Burke, Chief Underwriting Officer at MS Amlin, knew he wanted to be an actuary from a young age, inspired by the numbers game on Countdown.
- He pursued actuarial mathematics, influenced by his siblings' career choices starting with 'A'.
Switch to General Insurance
- During an internship at Commercial Union (life insurance), everyone advised Burke to pursue general insurance instead.
- Following this advice, he joined Commercial Union's general insurance division and later moved to Wellington Underwriting in the Lloyd's market.
Squiggly Career Path
- Burke's career path, which he describes as "squiggly," involved roles in reserving, pricing, finance, and risk management at various companies including Catlin and MSI.
- He joined MS Amlin as chief risk officer and transitioned to CUO after a series of internal moves.



