The Political Risk Podcast

Political stability and food prices are closely linked. This episode with Crispin Hodges, head of trade political risk, Canopius, looks at the effects of Russia's decision not to renew the Ukrainian grain corridor deal and a resulting drop in Black Sea grain exports. If food costs increase and grain shortages ensue, how will this impact emerging economies in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa?

Latin America is a political violence hotspot. SRCC claims in some territories have surpassed natural catastrophe losses, driving insurers to exclude these risks, in turn resulting in strong demand for standalone political violence products. This episode focuses on the threat landscape and likely triggers. Guests: Napoleon Montes-Amaya, head of Hiscox Miami; Mario Andrés Salcedo, head of terrorism and political violence for Latin America, Howden; and Tom Bradbrook, global head of terrorism and political violence, Howden.

Frédéric Denèfle is the president of IUMI, and MD of marine war risk insurer Garex. Neil Roberts is head of marine and aviation at the Lloyd’s Market Association, and secretary of the Joint War Committee. This episode looks at marine war risk in the Black Sea, the "Dark Fleet" of tankers, and the war risk and geopolitical focus for marine insurance at IUMI 2023.

Charlie Hanbury is the CEO of Samphire Risk, an independent London market MGA, focused on malicious risks, such as kidnap and ransom, crisis response, terrorism and political violence. This episode focuses on the interplay between malicious risks and climate change.

Jake Hernandez runs crisis management consultancy AnotherDay, recently acquired by Gallagher, an insurance broker. He recently returned from Kyiv and has been a regular visitor to Ukraine before and after the Russian invasion. Jake’s aim is to find ways to make Ukrainian war risks insurable. Finding solutions to this challenge is crucial for economic activity to continue within the country, as well as towards efforts to underwrite Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction.

A launch episode on the risk of political interference by the Chinese Communist Party. Insurance companies have courted Chinese commerce while neglecting this threat to their own business. George Magnus is a research associate for University of Oxford China Centre and a former UBS chief economist. David Worsfold is an author and journalist who has experienced this Chinese wall of silence interviewing insurance industry CEOs about China.