Captive Reflections


2018 January - Labuan IBFC Resource Centre - Captive Reflections

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Article written by Malcolm Cutts-Watson as a member of the Labuan FSA’s International Advisory Panel.  Read the article in the Labuan Resource Centre here
The start of a new year is always a good time to reflect on the previous year and assess the opportunities and challenges that might arise in the forthcoming year. Following a year of severe natural disasters and highly publicised cyber breaches, it is understandable that organisations are reviewing their risk financing strategies and in particular the role their own captive (re)insurance company can play in managing risk.
Review of 2017
2017 year end captive statistics were not available at the time of writing, but I predict the trends of 2016 will have continued into 2017. So we can expect new captive formations to be on a par with 2016’s number of 616 (disappointingly only eight of these are Asian owners). This will bring the total number of captive vehicles worldwide to around 6,750, albeit many of entities contain cells (effectively mini captives) so the true number is closer to 7,500. So, there is continued steady growth despite the insurance market remaining soft (which anecdotally is an inhibitor to captive formations).
Interestingly, the majority of owners of newly formed captives fall outside the Fortune 1000 and is dispelling the myth that captives are only for large corporations. My assessment is that captives are formed for strategic reasons rather than purely arbitraging the insurance market.
The number of territories offering bespoke captive legislation continued to increase, with over 70 domiciles now in play. More choices for the consumer but this increased competition could lead to a risk of lowering regulatory standards and inadequate local business infrastructure.
The off (and mid) shore jurisdictions continue to demonstrate greater innovation and flexibility to deliver new products and services. The role of captive technology in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) and longevity risk space continues to grow and we are witnessing the evolution of captives beyond simple risk retention. Currently ILS structures provide 10% of the global reinsurance capacity, and this is expected to reach 15% in 2018.
Any review of the year would not be complete without consideration of regulatory and fiscal regimes! Globally there is a shift to risk-based regulatory regimes and captives have not been immune. The upside is increased confidence in the resilience of the captive model through improved solvency (i.e. capital) and an enhanced governance and management of business risk. The downside has been additional capital commitments, increased running costs and additional bureaucracy. Given consumer protection and the collapse of financial markets are perils that rarely apply to the regulation of captives, the secret appears to be applying a regulatory regime that is proportionate to the risks captives pose. In the case of the EU, the Solvency 2 regulation applied to captives appears to be overkill and the supposed proportionality to be applied by regulators, illusionary. The end result has been a number of captive exits.
The full implications of the OECD’s BEPS initiative are beginning to reverberate around the globe. There is now a recognition that this measure has “legs” and territories and corporations are having to review their business models and amend as necessary to achieve compliance. This, and the need to adopt other global standards, may be behind the recent announcement by the Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia and the Chairman of Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA), Datuk Seri Muhammad Ibrahim where he advised the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) needed to reinvent itself and that the BEPS initiative would influence the Labuan IBFC’s business model. Again, the secret seems to be to effect sufficient change to achieve compliance without impairing the nimbleness and innovative thinking of the finance centre.
Preview of 2018
Basically, it is more of the same. The above review gave some hints as to the direction of journey.
Will the insurance market harden as a result of 2017 disasters? January 1 renewals suggest not. There is still plenty of capital to support risk takers and improved penetration rates in emerging markets are generating profitable business. Expect to see a better understanding, and improved modelling of risks. With this information, insurance buyers will be able to determine the optimum balance of risk to be transferred or retained. Increased retentions will drive captive growth.
Growths of US captives will slow due to tax challenges over the pricing and coverage offered by smaller captives (the so called 831b captives). However continued use of cells in protected cell captives will drive growth in the SME sector.
I expect to see more Asian-owned captives incorporated. Growth will be driven primarily by China, and in particular investment in non-Chinese located assets. I still stand by my prediction regarding Chinese captives; 200 captives generating USD20 billion premium in 10 years’ time. But other countries in the region are also demonstrating an increased awareness of risk management and the total cost of risk and this will lead to captive formations.
Domiciles that fail to respond to the changing governance landscape will lose business and ultimately become irrelevant. To be a successful and future-proofed financial centre, accreditation of global standards of conduct is essential. We have just seen the release of an EU blacklist of unacceptable financial jurisdictions and this will lead to diminished business from that region. Expect similar announcements from supranational organisations.
Continued scrutiny as a result of the BEPS initiative will lead to pressure on finance centres to adopt improved transparency and eliminate carve outs in fiscal policy. As discussed, Labuan IBFC has recognised the need to evolve. Paradoxically, more US States will pass captive specific legislation, offer light touch regulation and attract indigenous business as they appear immune from global scrutiny.
A barrier to the growth of off (or mid) shore captive jurisdictions are territorial restrictions on exporting capital and premium. Should these trade embargos be lifted, possibly through some form of Asian regional trading and mutual tax agreements, then this would be a catalyst to new captive formations.
The importance of the capitals markets to insurance risk will increase with the continued success of ILSs issued out of a captive structure. The reinsurance market no longer views this as a threat but as a complementary offering, comparable to how insurance markets now view captives. To date, risk transferred to investors via ILSs has been predominantly natural catastrophe cover, look out for new risks being offered to the capital markets. The use of captives to remove longevity risk from pension and annuity providers will continue apace.
Now, for the exciting part.
I see captives providing the perfect risk financing structure for territories facing similar natural perils. There are examples of this in the Caribbean, South Pacific islands and African nations. Risks are pooled into a captive vehicle and excessive risk cost efficiently transferred out to reinsurance or capital markets. The captive delivers a low cost robust operating platform and a solid governance framework (essential if a supranational organisation is financing the venture).
Another development that excites me is the use of a captive vehicle to facilitate micro insurance, making insurance protection available for the first time to a large sector of the market that previously had not been in a position to buy cover.
Using mobile phone apps and block chain technology it is now possible to collect small value premiums on a weekly basis without incurring heavy distribution costs. In turn, a simple-to-understand insurance policy can be issued, with claims settled automatically using predetermined trigger points.
Again, the captive offers a low cost operating platform and a strong governance framework. This type of product would be especially valuable for farmers and tradesmen in emerging territories and could form part of an impact investing offering which is gaining increasing traction in the wealth management world.
Conclusion
The global captive industry is robust and healthy with many opportunities to expand. However the standard captive model may need some changes so that it can face up to external scrutiny. To me it comes down to adopting a captive business plan that:

After four decades in the industry and business, I continue to be amazed at the resilience and creativeness shown by the captive community. I see no reason why this should change going forward!

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“Effective March 2023 CWC will merged with RISCS to become RISCS CWC. Please use the link in the image below to be directed to the new website. I and the rest of the CWC team remain available as part of their expanded RISCS CWC team. Malcolm Cutts-Watson”.

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Industry Engagement

- Employment of Talent -

To continue to offer, or to create, a compelling and competitive captive offering, domicile authorities need to understand the global captive marketplace, changing stakeholder demands and threats or opportunities for the business. It can be a challenge for these bodies to be able to access independent, insightful advice upon which to base their strategic planning and resource allocation.

Examples of CWC services for Industry Engagement:

  • Advising regulators on pragmatic implementation of regulatory change.
  • Recommend to promotional agencies how to enhance their domicile proposition and advance their strategic thinking.
  • Assist governmental bodies on the needs of the captive industry to facilitate the delivery of enabling legislation to allow the local captive business to flourish.

Short Term Consignment

- Employment of Talent -

To continue to offer, or to create, a compelling and competitive captive offering, domicile authorities need to understand the global captive marketplace, changing stakeholder demands and threats or opportunities for the business. It can be a challenge for these bodies to be able to access independent, insightful advice upon which to base their strategic planning and resource allocation.

Examples of CWC services for Short Term Consignment:

  • Advising regulators on pragmatic implementation of regulatory change.
  • Recommend to promotional agencies how to enhance their domicile proposition and advance their strategic thinking.
  • Assist governmental bodies on the needs of the captive industry to facilitate the delivery of enabling legislation to allow the local captive business to flourish.

Non-Executive Directorship

- Employment of Talent -

To continue to offer, or to create, a compelling and competitive captive offering, domicile authorities need to understand the global captive marketplace, changing stakeholder demands and threats or opportunities for the business. It can be a challenge for these bodies to be able to access independent, insightful advice upon which to base their strategic planning and resource allocation.

Examples of CWC Consultant held Non-Executive Directorships:

  • Advising regulators on pragmatic implementation of regulatory change.
  • Recommend to promotional agencies how to enhance their domicile proposition and advance their strategic thinking.
  • Assist governmental bodies on the needs of the captive industry to facilitate the delivery of enabling legislation to allow the local captive business to flourish.

Thomas Welsh

Board Development Coach

39+ years cross sector experience in releasing potential of boards, organisations, and their managers and leaders. Author of ‘Building the Future’ acclaimed development guide for boards and their members.

Thomas Welsh

Board Development Coach

39+ years cross sector experience in releasing potential of boards, organisations, and their managers and leaders. Author of ‘Building the Future’ acclaimed development guide for boards and their members.

Board Development

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The Board, and individual Board Members, face a growing array of stakeholders’ scrutiny whilst directing a captive or SME insurer. Increasingly, they are looking to external independent counsel to ensure, and provide evidence, that they are a high performing and soundly governed caucus.

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Examples of CWC services for our Commitment to Board Development:

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We offer an objective and confidential service to talent wishing to assess their career opportunities. We can draw upon many years of experience and offer detached advice on your career path and learning development
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Examples of CWC services for our Commitment to Career Development:

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Career Development

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We offer an objective and confidential service to talent wishing to assess their career opportunities. We can draw upon many years of experience and offer detached advice on your career path and learning development
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Examples of CWC services for our Commitment to Career Development:

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Education

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As part of our commitment to develop the talent in the captive industry, we host various educational events. Recent examples include the 2015 UK Insurance Act and management of assets in a Solvency II world.

We also run an Advanced Captive Training programme as we have identified there is little structured educational resource in the industry beyond introductory courses.

Our consultants are frequent speakers at industry events covering technical topics as well as offering their outlook on the current and future captive landscape.

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Examples of CWC services for our Commitment to Education:

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Domicile Regulators, Governments &
Promotional Agencies

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To continue to offer, or to create, a compelling and competitive captive offering, domicile authorities need to understand the global captive marketplace, changing stakeholder demands and threats or opportunities for the business. It can be a challenge for these bodies to be able to access independent, insightful advice upon which to base their strategic planning and resource allocation.

Examples of CWC services for Domicile Regulators & Promotional Agencies:

  • Advising regulators on pragmatic implementation of regulatory change.
  • Recommend to promotional agencies how to enhance their domicile proposition and advance their strategic thinking.
  • Assist governmental bodies on the needs of the captive industry to facilitate the delivery of enabling legislation to allow the local captive business to flourish.

Insurers & Reinsurers

- Partners -

The market typically interacts with a captive in the following ways:

  • Underwriting the risk of the insured and then reinsuring all or part of the risk to the captive (“fronting”).
  • Acting as a reinsurer of the captive to accept excess risk above the captive’s risk bearing appetite. The captive may have assumed risk on a direct basis from the insured or via a fronting arrangement.


In all situations (re)insurance industry stakeholders should interact with the captive on the same terms as they would with any other market participant yet recognising the unique characteristics of the captive arrangement.

Examples of CWC services for Insurers & Reinsurers:

  • Conduct In-house workshops to ensure full understanding of the captive model, the roles and relationship of all parties in a captive arrangement and flow of funds and documentation.
  • Advise on captive participation; programme design, operational processes and procedures, collateral, and reporting requirements.
  • Inform of the needs of the captive industry in respect of fronting services and reinsurance protection.
  • Advise on developments and trends in the captive industry such as governance and regulatory changes and explain the impact on the captive and on your involvement.
  • Act as your in-house captive centre of excellence, either remotely or participate in discussions with the insured and their advisers.
  • Introduce you to key captive stakeholders and influencers.
  • Assist and participate in marketing activities.
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Captive Health Check

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If you are looking to create, enhance or take to market your captive proposition we can advise you on the best way to proceed. CWC is wholly independently owned and not associated with another broking or insurance company, giving it complete independence and flexibility. This allows us to work with you to deliver to the captive market a best in class offering that benefits from our combined accumulated knowledge and wisdom.

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If you are looking to create, enhance or take to market your captive proposition we can advise you on the best way to proceed. CWC is wholly independently owned and not associated with another broking or insurance company, giving it complete independence and flexibility. This allows us to work with you to deliver to the captive market a best in class offering that benefits from our combined accumulated knowledge and wisdom.

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Captive Strategic Review

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If you are looking to create, enhance or take to market your captive proposition we can advise you on the best way to proceed. CWC is wholly independently owned and not associated with another broking or insurance company, giving it complete independence and flexibility. This allows us to work with you to deliver to the captive market a best in class offering that benefits from our combined accumulated knowledge and wisdom.

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Service Providers

- Stakeholders -

If you are looking to create, enhance or take to market your captive proposition we can advise you on the best way to proceed. CWC is wholly independently owned and not associated with another broking or insurance company, giving it complete independence and flexibility. This allows us to work with you to deliver to the captive market a best in class offering that benefits from our combined accumulated knowledge and wisdom.

Examples of CWC services for Service Providers:

We maintain close links with captive industry globally and so are able to guide you through market dynamics, culture & accepted practice, trends and emerging developments. Our extensive network of contacts ensures honest feedback and access to key influencers and decision makers in the domiciles.

We can contribute to your marketing and sales planning and facilitate product launches, or simply be a sounding board for your ideas.

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Captive Owners

- Stakeholders -

If you are considering captive insurance for the first time or need quality independent advice on change management, CWC can assist you ensuring the captive insurance vehicle is right for your organisation.

Examples of CWC services for Captive Owners:

  • Strategic review. Is your captive business plan still relevant and delivering real value?Creation of a strategic road map to optimise the captive’s effectiveness and meet key drivers.
  • Domicile review. Could your captive objectives be better achieved in another location?
  • Exit strategies. If your captive has run its course, what is the best means to exit the business?
  • Health check. Are you comfortable your captive is operating efficiently and in line with industry best practice?
  • Bespoke consulting to respond to particular issues your captive faces.

CWC Products for Captive Owners:

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Captive Feasibility Study

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Captive Managers

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We do not seek to assume or duplicate responsibilities and activities performed by a Captive Manager. Rather, we look to bring added value to client service and/or assist the Captive Manager’s management of their own business. We bring extensive experience of running a captive management business including strengthening a value proposition, winning business, innovative thinking and developing staff.

Examples of CWC services for Captive Managers:

  • Act as a Non Executive Director of clients under management.
  • Assist in responding to RFP’s.
  • Review internal processes and procedures.
  • Facilitate internal workshops or away days to set strategy, establish plans or solve a particular problem.
  • Assist in staff training and education.
  • Assist in development and delivery of marketing and sales plans.
  • Act as challenger or ‘Devil’s Advocate’ to test strategy.
  • Undertake client and employee surveys.
  • Provide market intelligence.
  • Advise on complex or unusual issues or situations that captive managers may not have encountered before.
  • Assist in identifying, and recruitment of, suitable candidates for vacant or newly created senior positions.

Captive Managers

- Stakeholders -

We do not seek to assume or duplicate responsibilities and activities performed by a Captive Manager. Rather, we look to bring added value to client service and/or assist the Captive Manager’s management of their own business. We bring extensive experience of running a captive management business including strengthening a value proposition, winning business, innovative thinking and developing staff.

Examples of CWC services for Captive Managers:

  • Act as a Non Executive Director of clients under management.
  • Assist in responding to RFP’s.
  • Review internal processes and procedures.
  • Facilitate internal workshops or away days to set strategy, establish plans or solve a particular problem.
  • Assist in staff training and education.
  • Assist in development and delivery of marketing and sales plans.
  • Act as challenger or ‘Devil’s Advocate’ to test strategy.
  • Undertake client and employee surveys.
  • Provide market intelligence.
  • Advise on complex or unusual issues or situations that captive managers may not have encountered before.
  • Assist in identifying, and recruitment of, suitable candidates for vacant or newly created senior positions.

Our CWC Products designed for Captive Managers:

  • xxxxxxxx.

Thank you

For taking the time to fill in the survey. If you would like to speak to one of the team feel free to contact us at CWC

James Portelli

Consultant

A seasoned chartered insurance risk manager with 3 decades of insurance and reinsurance experience in conventional and captive sectors across Europe and the Middle East.
James has been involved in financial services, initially in banking, since 1986 and joining insurance in 1990. 
 
A chartered insurance risk manager, James is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Fellow of the UK Institute of Risk Management and also holds an MSc in Risk Management from Glasgow Caledonian University. 
 
He started his insurance career with Middlesea Insurance plc (now part of the Grupo Mapfre conglomerate) in Malta later worked in London, Central Europe , the Middle East (Bahrain, UAE and Qatar) and East Africa with a career spanning commercial and industrial insurance underwriting, distribution, outward reinsurance, broking, risk management, captive management, consulting and training.
 
He is now an non-executive director on a portfolio of insurance companies in Malta operating across Europe by virtue of the EU Freedom of Services Directive, is also active in one company in an executive capacity and lectures insurance part-time at the University of Malta. 

James Portelli

Consultant

A seasoned chartered insurance risk manager with 3 decades of insurance and reinsurance experience in conventional and captive sectors across Europe and the Middle East

James has been involved in financial services, initially in banking, since 1986 and joining insurance in 1990. 
 
A chartered insurance risk manager, James is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Fellow of the UK Institute of Risk Management and also holds an MSc in Risk Management from Glasgow Caledonian University. 
 
He started his insurance career with Middlesea Insurance plc (now part of the Grupo Mapfre conglomerate) in Malta later worked in London, Central Europe , the Middle East (Bahrain, UAE and Qatar) and East Africa with a career spanning commercial and industrial insurance underwriting, distribution, outward reinsurance, broking, risk management, captive management, consulting and training.
 
He is now an non-executive director on a portfolio of insurance companies in Malta operating across Europe by virtue of the EU Freedom of Services Directive, is also active in one company in an executive capacity and lectures insurance part-time at the University of Malta. 

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Dom Wheatley

Managing Director

A seasoned captive practitioner and consultant, finance industry experience with over 25 years  world class knowledge.

Exiting Chief Executive of Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for Guernsey’s finance industry.

His role included business development and the promotion of Guernsey’s finance industry in the Island’s target markets including Europe, the US and the emerging markets, technical research to support promotional activities and liaison with industry associations and government.

Previously Chief Marketing Officer of the Willis Global Captive Practice and Managing Director of its Guernsey business. Over 25 years of finance experience in London and, for the past 19 years in Guernsey.

A member of the Institute of Directors and serve as a non-executive director on a number of local boards. A fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and holds an M.B.A from Warwick University.

Dom Wheatley

Managing Director

A seasoned captive practitioner and consultant, finance industry experience with over 25 years  world class knowledge.

Exiting Chief Executive of Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for Guernsey’s finance industry.

His role included business development and the promotion of Guernsey’s finance industry in the Island’s target markets including Europe, the US and the emerging markets, technical research to support promotional activities and liaison with industry associations and government.

Previously Chief Marketing Officer of the Willis Global Captive Practice and Managing Director of its Guernsey business. Over 25 years of finance experience in London and, for the past 19 years in Guernsey.

A member of the Institute of Directors and serve as a non-executive director on a number of local boards. A fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and holds an M.B.A from Warwick University.

Ashley Paxton FCA

Project Consultant

Guernsey based chartered accountant with c30 years’ experience spent in practice.

Recently retired as partner and head of Advisory for KPMG in the Channel Islands.

Guernsey based chartered accountant with c30 years’ experience spent in practice.

Unique blend of operational and client experience split between audit and advisory latterly focused on providing transactional support across the insurance, funds, fiduciary and banking sectors as well as local government.

Led a number of high profile and innovative engagements for the States of Guernsey including:

2017 – States bond issue commissioned by the Scrutiny Management Committee
2017 – Guernsey housing market review
2016 – Strategic review of the Guernsey fiduciary industry
2015 – Financial mitigation for milk distributors
2015 – International Capital Flows (funds sector)
Various other confidential engagements

Qualifications
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
BSc (Hons) Economics, University of Warwick

Ashley Paxton FCA​

Project Consultant

Guernsey based chartered accountant with c30 years’ experience spent in practice.

Recently retired as partner and head of Advisory for KPMG in the Channel Islands.

Guernsey based chartered accountant with c30 years’ experience spent in practice.

Unique blend of operational and client experience split between audit and advisory latterly focused on providing transactional support across the insurance, funds, fiduciary and banking sectors as well as local government.

Led a number of high profile and innovative engagements for the States of Guernsey including:

2017 – States bond issue commissioned by the Scrutiny Management Committee
2017 – Guernsey housing market review
2016 – Strategic review of the Guernsey fiduciary industry
2015 – Financial mitigation for milk distributors
2015 – International Capital Flows (funds sector)
Various other confidential engagements

Qualifications
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
BSc (Hons) Economics, University of Warwick

Graham Powell

Head of Consulting

Graham has spent four decades working in the insurance industry. He has a wealth of experience in all aspects of an insurer’s life cycle including feasibility, formation, management, revalidation and de-risking. In recent years Graham has specialized more on regulatory and compliance work for commercial insurers.

Based in Guernsey, Graham brings his unique skill set to CWC working centrally with the team as it responds to the diverse and ever-changing needs of its clients.

As a result of so many years at the “coal face” Graham has a unique insight into every aspect of insurance management. This wealth of experience is now channeled into helping CWC’s clients realise the full potential of their insurers.
This in-depth knowledge came into its own when CWC was commissioned to carry out a strategic review of the Guernsey insurance sector by the States of Guernsey. Graham acted as the project manager for this major piece of work.

Outside of CWC, Graham acts as an independent non-executive director on a number of Guernsey (re)insurers for groups operating in a wide range of industries. The owners of these entities range from private individuals to constituents of the FTSE 100 and Nasdaq.

Graham is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute by examination. He is registered and approved as a Director with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Graham Powell

Head of Consulting

Graham has spent four decades working in the insurance industry. He has a wealth of experience in all aspects of an insurer’s life cycle including feasibility, formation, management, revalidation and de-risking. In recent years Graham has specialized more on regulatory and compliance work for commercial insurers.

Based in Guernsey, Graham brings his unique skill set to CWC working centrally with the team as it responds to the diverse and ever-changing needs of its clients.

As a result of so many years at the “coal face” Graham has a unique insight into every aspect of insurance management. This wealth of experience is now channeled into helping CWC’s clients realise the full potential of their insurers.

This in-depth knowledge came into its own when CWC was commissioned to carry out a strategic review of the Guernsey insurance sector by the States of Guernsey. Graham acted as the project manager for this major piece of work.   

Outside of CWC, Graham acts as an independent non-executive director on a number of Guernsey (re)insurers for groups operating in a wide range of industries. The owners of these entities range from private individuals to constituents of the FTSE 100 and Nasdaq.

Graham is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute by examination. He is registered and approved as a Director with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Paul Wakefield

Consultant

Longstanding experience in on & offshore environments most recently as a Non Executive Director with a London market insurance Company. Experienced in feasibility studies, regulatory matters and the set up of insurance subsidiaries for global multi national corporations.

Paul delivers his own in-depth market knowledge of, and insight into, the captive insurance world.

Paul brings longstanding experience of working in both onshore and offshore environments, most recently as a Non Executive Director with a London market insurance company.

He is also currently a Non Executive Director of a number of Guernsey based insurance companies. He provides CWC clients with further valuable knowledge and a proven track record of strategic and operational consulting.

Paul has undertaken numerous feasibility studies and set up insurance subsidiaries for multi- national corporations across the globe.

As part of the work with captives he has overseen portfolio transfers, novations, redomiciliation of captives, Protected Cell Company formation and the design and implementation of multi-year multi-line reinsurance programmes. He also has undertaken various consultancy work on the regulatory side of insurance.

Paul is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He is registered and approved as a Director with the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority and the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Paul Wakefield

Consultant

Longstanding experience in on & offshore environments most recently as a Non Executive Director with a London market insurance Company. Experienced in feasibility studies, regulatory matters and the set up of insurance subsidiaries for global multi national corporations.

Paul delivers his own in-depth market knowledge of, and insight into, the captive insurance world.

Paul brings longstanding experience of working in both onshore and offshore environments, most recently as a Non Executive Director with a London market insurance company.

He is also currently a Non Executive Director of a number of Guernsey based insurance companies. He provides CWC clients with further valuable knowledge and a proven track record of strategic and operational consulting.

Paul has undertaken numerous feasibility studies and set up insurance subsidiaries for multi- national corporations across the globe.

As part of the work with captives he has overseen portfolio transfers, novations, redomiciliation of captives, Protected Cell Company formation and the design and implementation of multi-year multi-line reinsurance programmes. He also has undertaken various consultancy work on the regulatory side of insurance.

Paul is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He is registered and approved as a Director with the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority and the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.

Niall Lucas

COO / FD

Niall has spent most of his professional career in the captive insurance industry. Holds the ACII, FPC & Chartered Insurer along with various accounting, marketing & computer vocations.

Niall has spent most of his professional career in the captive insurance industry.

He started in Guernsey in 1996, where he provided underwriting support the UK Post Office captive.

During his career, Niall has advised captive stakeholders on underwriting, strategic, operational and governance matters across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions.

He has lead difficult consulting projects requiring innovative thinking, high quality communication skills and perseverance.

Niall has exceptional marketing and up to date IT knowledge with highly developed research and analytical skills. He qualified as a Chartered Insurer and Financial Planner. These attributes together with his vast captive experience allows Niall to fulfil his role as Chief Operating Officer of CWC.

Niall joined CWC in 2015 to support Malcolm in the development of the company. In 2016 he was promoted to COO and continues to support CWC as it holds its place as the global Captive Consultants of choice.

Niall Lucas

COO / FD

Niall has spent most of his professional career in the captive insurance industry. Holds the ACII, FPC & Chartered Insurer along with various accounting, marketing & computer vocations.

He started in Guernsey in 1996, where he provided underwriting support the UK Post Office captive.

During his career, Niall has advised captive stakeholders on underwriting, strategic, operational and governance matters across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions.

He has lead difficult consulting projects requiring innovative thinking, high quality communication skills and perseverance.

Niall has exceptional marketing & up to date IT knowledge with highly developed research and analytical skills.  He qualified as a Chartered Insurer and Financial Planner. These attributes together with his vast captive experience allows Niall to fulfil his role as Chief Operating Officer of CWC.

Niall joined CWC in 2015 to support Malcolm in the development of the company. In 2016 he was promoted to COO and continues to support CWC as it holds its position in the industry as the global Captive Consultants of choice.

Conor Jennings

Consultant

Conor Jennings FCII, FIRM, TEP is an insurance and risk management professional of many years’ experience.

He has lived and worked in Ireland, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, Guernsey, BVI and more recently in the Cayman Islands.

During this time Conor has managed and directed captive insurance companies for clients ranging from small, family-held businesses to US Fortune 500 companies encompassing a whole host of industries.


Having, most recently, spent over a decade in the Caribbean managing mainly North and South American captive insurance clients Conor leverages his deep global knowledge and skills set to provide creative risk financing solutions to clients from all over the world.

Conor Jennings

Consultant

Conor Jennings FCII, FIRM, TEP is an insurance and risk management professional of many years’ experience.

He has lived and worked in Ireland, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, Guernsey, BVI and more recently in the Cayman Islands

During this time Conor has managed and directed captive insurance companies for clients ranging from small, family-held businesses to US Fortune 500 companies encompassing a whole host of industries.

Having, most recently, spent over a decade in the Caribbean managing mainly North and South American captive insurance clients Conor leverages his deep global knowledge and skills set to provide creative risk financing solutions to clients from all over the world.

Malcolm_Square_shaped_white_backdrop

Malcolm Cutts-Watson

Founder & Chairman

A seasoned captive practitioner and consultant, Malcolm has gathered vast experience over 4 decades working in different domiciles and advising companies and regulatory bodies across the world.

Malcolm Cutts-Watson has spent most of his professional career in the captive insurance industry.

He started in Bermuda in 1982, was in the vanguard of the development of Vermont captive business and then worked in Guernsey. During his career, Malcolm has advised captive stakeholders on strategic, operational and governance matters across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions . He also advises governmental and regulatory bodies on legislative and regulatory change.

He has served, and continues to serve, as a director on a variety of captive insurers and is an approved person in many captive domiciles. He qualified as an accountant in 1982.

Malcolm was a member of the Captive Review Power 50 and in 2015 received the industry’s outstanding contribution by an individual award.

In 2017 he became an inaugural inductee into the Captive Hall of Fame which recognises the most influential figures in the captive industry over the past 50 years.

He has acted as industry partner to AIRMIC’s Captive Special Interest Group. He is a regular contributor to industry debate and is a passionate advocate for the raising of standards in the captive industry.

Malcolm founded CWC in 2015 to allow organisations access to the accumulated knowledge, insight and solutions that he, and the rest of the CWC team of captive insurance experts, have gathered over their lifetimes.

Malcolm Cutts-Watson

Founder & Chairman

Malcolm_Square_shaped_white_backdrop

A seasoned captive practitioner and consultant, Malcolm has gathered vast experience over 4 decades working in different domiciles and advising companies and regulatory bodies across the world.

Malcolm Cutts-Watson has spent most of his professional career in the captive insurance industry.

He started in Bermuda in 1982, was in the vanguard of the development of Vermont captive business and then worked in Guernsey. During his career, Malcolm has advised captive stakeholders on strategic, operational and governance matters across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions . He also advises governmental and regulatory bodies on legislative and regulatory change.

He has served, and continues to serve, as a director as a director on a variety of captive insurers and is an approved person in many captive domiciles. He qualified as an accountant in 1982.

Malcolm was a member of the Captive Review Power 50 and in 2015 received the industry’s outstanding contribution by an individual award.

In 2017 he became an inaugural inductee into the Captive Hall of Fame which recognises the most influential figures in the captive industry over the past 50 years.

He has acted as industry partner to AIRMIC’s Captive Special Interest Group. He is a regular contributor to industry debate and is a passionate advocate for the raising of standards in the captive industry.

Malcolm founded CWC in 2015 to allow organisations access to the accumulated knowledge, insight and solutions that he, and the rest of the CWC team of captive insurance experts, have gathered over their lifetimes.