Let's be honest, the world of risk is getting more complicated by the minute. Just when we think we have a handle on things, a new technology like generative AI pops up, or a cyber threat we've never seen before emerges. It feels like we're constantly trying to write the rulebook while the game is already in play.
So, who are the people we should be watching? Who’s actually figuring out how to navigate this new landscape?
I want to introduce you to Todd Greeley. He’s the Chief Claims Officer for QBE North America, and he was recently named a 2026 Executive to Watch by Risk & Insurance. And once you hear his story, you’ll understand why. He’s tackled some of the gnarliest areas in our industry—from financial lines and aviation to the wild west of cyber claims. But it’s his background that really makes you lean in.
From the Courtroom to the Claims Desk
You’d probably expect a top claims chief to have spent their entire career climbing the insurance ladder. That’s not Todd’s story.
His first job after graduating from Georgetown Law wasn’t at an insurance company. It was at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. For six years, he was an attorney, living in the world of legal analysis and prosecution before he ever touched a commercial liability policy.
And that’s where things get really interesting. He sees a direct line between his past life as a lawyer and his current one as a claims leader.
“In many ways, what you do as a claims professional mirrors what you do as a legal analyst,” Greeley shared. He explained that a legal background forces you to think critically and see risk from every possible angle. In insurance, that’s not just a nice skill to have—it’s everything.
Think about it. Every single insurance policy is a legal document. The precision required to draft a legal argument is the same precision needed to understand what a policy truly intends to cover. This is a huge deal, especially now, as we’re all trying to figure out if existing policies cover brand-new risks from AI or sophisticated cyber attacks.
“The emphasis I received as a lawyer on precision in drafting and understanding the intent behind the words you chose has been and always will be extraordinarily relevant to my work,” he said. It’s shaped his whole approach to problem-solving: be methodical, but always look for creative solutions that actually work in the real world.
The Secret to Tackling Complex Risks? It’s People.
When you’re dealing with risks that have no precedent, you can’t just look up the answer in a manual. You need a team that can think on its feet. That’s something Greeley understands down to his core.
Throughout his career, he’s been a huge advocate for breaking down silos. He encourages his claims teams to work hand-in-hand with underwriters, customers, and brokers. It’s not about passing a file from one desk to another; it’s about creating what he calls “a naturally collaborative culture.”
The goal? To build a place where people feel respected, see how their individual work plugs into the bigger mission, and know that what they do actually matters.
So, what does he look for when building a team? Of course, he wants people with strong technical skills. But just as important is a deep sense of curiosity about our industry. He wants people who are always asking "what if?" and "why?"
“I empower them to do their best work which includes giving them the space to take risks and fail, so we can learn and grow from our decisions,” Greeley explained. And frankly, that’s the kind of leadership that builds a team capable of handling the unknown. You can’t innovate if you’re terrified of making a mistake.
Using Technology to Make Us More Human
Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: AI. Everyone is wondering how tools like generative AI will change the claims process. Will it replace us?
Greeley has a clear-eyed and, I think, really smart take on this. He’s not looking at AI as a replacement for his people. He sees it as a tool to empower them.
Think of all the administrative tasks that bog down a claims professional’s day. Now, imagine if AI could automate a lot of that, freeing up your team to focus on what humans do best: critical thinking, empathy, and making nuanced decisions. That’s Greeley’s vision. He wants to use these incredible new technologies to help his team work smarter, not just harder, so they can make better, quicker decisions on a claim.
“At the heart of our strategy is the belief that our greatest asset is our people,” he said. “Our goal is to use what may be some of the most transformative advances in technology that we have seen in generations to empower our people to do their best work.”
And that, right there, is why Todd Greeley is one to watch. He brings a lawyer’s precision to policy language, a leader’s belief in collaborative teams, and a forward-thinker’s vision for technology. It's a powerful combination, and it’s exactly the kind of perspective our industry needs as we head into an unpredictable future.
