Paul Stiff
Bury St Edmunds,Suffolk
Summary
Accomplished Risk & Insurance subject matter expert with a proven track record in leadership, relationship building, and negotiation. Adept at strategy development, coaching, and change management, fostering collaboration and innovative thinking. Committed to driving organisational success through strategic initiatives and effective team management.
Organised and dependable Insurance professional with +28 years of experience. Successful at managing multiple priorities with positive attitude. Willing to take on greater responsibilities to meet team goals.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Group Head of Insurance & Safety
Ocado Group
Hatfield, United Kingdom
06.2020 - 04.2025
- Responsible for Group Insurance strategy and delivery of Group's global insurance and Business Continuity programmes
- Interim Director of Heath, Fire, Safety & Environment (18 months)
- Employment Benefits procurement
- Administration of Employee Benefits Committee (managing death in service process)
- Construction All Risks insurance for ~40 global projects with capex of £30-£50m per project
- Accountable for Motor insurance programme with 3,500 vehicles with ~£16m claims managed in house each year
- Claims management
- Director of Atlas (Captive)
- Portfolio of ~£32m annual spend
- 19 direct reports
- Member of General Counsel Senior Leadership team
- Led strategic re-design of global Property programme and built unique and innovative programme structure
- Implemented Global Construction programme to stabilise pricing and provide consistent cover in volatile insurance market
- Delivering premium savings of ~£2m annual through strategic innovation
- Led settlement of 2 major fire claims - £275m and £20m respectively
- Mentor under '30%' cross company Mentoring Scheme
- Drove process improvements, optimised workflow efficiency.
- Developed robust incident reporting systems, facilitating swift resolution of issues.
- Led cross-departmental collaborations with aim of improving overall safety standards.
Head of Client Engagement & Multinational - Africa
AIG
Johannesburg, South Africa
05.2015 - 10.2018
- Relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa
- Member of AIG's Senior Leadership team for Africa
- Strategic leader with broad experience across all facets of business management from financial performance, strategy development and delivery, goal setting to issue resolution, innovation, deal making and transformation
- Relied up to guide clients and stakeholders through complex risk topics - insured and uninsured risks, ESG, Total Cost of Risk frameworks, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
- Chairman of Institute of Risk Management for South Africa (IRMSA) - Risk Intelligence Committee
- Also led AIG's interaction with industry bodies - IRMSA, and American Chamber of Commerce in Africa
- Personally tasked with developing and implementing Client Engagement model for AIG in Africa
- Responsible for two Client-focused teams with accountability for AIG's top 100 clients and AIG's Multinational activity across Africa
- Full accountability for client portfolio of £53m
- Thought leadership speaker at various Risk & Insurance conferences
- Published industry articles in trade media/press - various topics including Disruption Technology, Multinational Insurance and Risk Landscape
- Minimised risk by implementing effective account retention strategies.
- Managed conflict resolution procedures, ensuring optimal client relationships.
Client Director, Client Engagement
AIG
London, United Kingdom
02.2013 - 04.2015
- Integral senior member of Client Engagement team and ambassador for AIG globally
- Responsibility for large, high profile, client portfolio of 25 global/complex clients with premiums totalling c.$250m
- Largest single a/c c.$138m
- Portfolio cut across wide range of industry sectors - Aerospace & Defence, Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, Logistics, Commodity Traders, Energy, and Service Industries
- In depth knowledge of Risk topics impacting key industry sectors and relevant regulation
- Demonstrated significant success with both revenue generation and client retention
- Excelled at developing strong and lasting relationships
- Relied upon to turn around 'at risk' client accounts and relationships
- Played lead role for significant change management programmes - undertaking role of 'Client Expert'
- Engaged in all aspect of recruitment from canvasing prospective candidates, leading interviews, providing feedback and contractual negotiations
- Mentor to number of individuals
- Developed and presented AIG Academy topical training sessions to wide ranging senior client representatives e.g
- Captive Management, Claims management, Risk appetite
Senior Vice President - Client Executive, Risk Management Practice
Marsh
London, United Kingdom
02.2001 - 01.2013
- Held specific management responsibility for large multinational client accounts with complex risk profiles
- Personal responsibility for client premium spend of c
- £25m and fees of >£6m
- Responsible for matching client needs and demands with appropriate insurance placements and products
- Articulate in wide variety of Risk Management approaches and modelling techniques including Captives, Catastrophe Bonds, Risk Finance Optimisation and Novation facilitating decision making at Board level
- Excellent working knowledge of contractual risk management, both from perspective of principal and supplier
- Called upon to provide guidance to clients - developing bespoke contract protocols, and advising on contractual structure and content around insurance provisions
- Trusted by clients in providing Risk Mitigation advice and working to reduce potential liability
- Sound knowledge of multinational insurance programme - including global operating environment, regulation and tax considerations
- Partnered with third-party supplier and led development of large-scale data collection and consolidation tool
- Recognising opportunity and responding to client needs this led to client service offering and enhanced revenue generation
- Active member of Risk Management Practice Client Advisory Council
Client Account Handler, Willis Risk Solutions
Willis
Ipswich, United Kingdom
10.1996 - 02.2001
- Formative years in insurance
- Undertook considerable technical training and established sound working ethos
- Formed strong knowledge of mainstream insurance products - Liability and Property, Motor, Travel, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Crime and Environmental
- Part of core team that innovated and delivered successful insurance programme for UK National Lottery - industry first
- Provided critical advice to Camelot in support of its successful bid to be lottery operator
- Worked in support of technical team developing global multinational insurance programme platform providing 24/7 access to policies and premium data
- Managed significant day-to-day interaction with global client operations in support of global insurance programmes
- Facilitated smooth onboarding process for new clients, setting a positive start to partnerships.
- Managed client accounts whilst ensuring excellent customer service.
Education
BA Honours - Geography
Southampton University
Southampton 01.1993 - 01.1996
3 A-levels - Archaeology, Biology, Geography
Christ's Hospital
Horsham 01.1986 - 01.1993
10 GCSE's (A-C) - including English Language, Mathematics
Horsham08.1991
Skills
- Risk & Insurance subject matter expert
- Leadership
- Relationship Building
- Negotiation
- Strategy development
- Coaching
- Change management
- Collaboration
- Free-thinker
Certification
- Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
- Full driving licence
- RYA Yachtmaster
Affiliations
- Sailing, motor sports and house renovation
References
Available on request
Timeline
Group Head of Insurance & Safety
Ocado Group
06.2020 - 04.2025
Head of Client Engagement & Multinational - Africa
AIG
05.2015 - 10.2018
Client Director, Client Engagement
AIG
02.2013 - 04.2015
Senior Vice President - Client Executive, Risk Management Practice
Marsh
02.2001 - 01.2013
Client Account Handler, Willis Risk Solutions
Willis
10.1996 - 02.2001
BA Honours - Geography
Southampton University
01.1993 - 01.1996
3 A-levels - Archaeology, Biology, Geography
Christ's Hospital
01.1986 - 01.1993
10 GCSE's (A-C) - including English Language, Mathematics
Similar Profiles
Kathleen BoriaKathleen Boria
Commissioning and Test Engineering Manager at Ocado GroupCommissioning and Test Engineering Manager at Ocado Group
OLADAPO OGUNYOMBOOLADAPO OGUNYOMBO
Person Shopper at Ocado GroupPerson Shopper at Ocado Group
Scott KeeleyScott Keeley
Senior Operations Manager at Ocado GroupSenior Operations Manager at Ocado Group