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Kyle Anderson’s impressions of his secondment to London...

13 Apr 2023

All of us at Ambris are sad to see Kyle Anderson of Johnston Meier return to Canada at the end of a very successful 6 month secondment with the Property and Casualty broking teams. Kyle’s enthusiasm and drive was a great asset to us and he helped the team win many interesting new accounts. We hope Kyle gained a much better understanding of the London market during his time in London and made some strong relationships that will help him develop his career now he is back in British Columbia.

We asked Kyle to share his insights on London and the Lloyd’s market from a young ambitious Canadian brokers perspective:

How did your first impressions of London compare to your expectations?

The urgency and energy in London is immediately apparent and fell in line with my expectations for a Global financial centre. The city is even more densely populated and geographically large than I could have imagined, even in comparison to the larger Canadian cities. Though, I was expecting more tea houses and less coffee shops.

Was it much if a culture shock moving to London and commuting into the City through the winter months and countless transport strikes?

London culture was remarkably similar to the Canadian cities that I have worked and lived in. Most daily activities are performed in the same way at the same types of venues – unless you make an effort to do more traditional London activities such as getting Pie-Mash or sit at a historic pub/restaurant. Public transportation varied although to me I noticed a marked improvement in weather from that experienced in Canada – where is all of the snow?

What impressed you about the London market and the depth of knowledge on Canadian business

I was impressed by all aspects of the London Market and the people who comprise it. Underwriters and brokers alike are remarkably knowledgeable about the Canadian insurance landscape and the geographical/operational intricacies. It was always interesting to hear a London Underwriter evaluate rating and available perils based on their knowledge of even small locations in a country that they do not inhabit.

How will you use your experience when you return to Canada?

 Understanding the way the London market functions operationally, the daily/quarterly/yearly pressures, and the value of relationships will be invaluable to myself and my organization in Canada. There are many in Canada who know of and use the London market but there are very few who have operated within it, this has provided me a strong insight into why decisions are made and how the market can be better utilized.

What three things define your experience in London

 Insurance, Insurance, Insurance. My experience in London was very focused on business, as the opportunity to work directly in the Lloyds market for a premier broker such as Ambris is not one that comes available often and must be appreciated accordingly.

 Would you recommend an experience to your peers in North America?

 Experiencing the Lloyds building on a busy day is one of the more impactful experiences an insurance professional can have and I could not recommend it more strongly. One would be hard-pressed to find a singular location where there is more insurance expertise and high-level business being conducted in the world. Walking the hallways and sitting in a Box never lost its lustre and was ever inspiring.

Kyle Anderson