June 02, 2017

NAME: Eric Micheals

NEW JOB TITLE: New York-based senior vice president and head of emerging solutions for Hiscox USA

PREVIOUS JOB TITLE: New York-based senior vice president of the Hiscox underwriting center for Hiscox USA

GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: To figure out the best way for Hiscox to use technology to grow our business. We see a lot happening in the emerging market of the insuretech space. One of my primary goals is finding a way to best utilize that technology to help grow our business.

CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: The way technology and insurance are merging and how fast it's growing ... I think as an industry, collectively, we need to get our heads around how that's going to happen and how that's going to affect the industry so we can all continue to grow our businesses.

FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: New York-based underwriter at American International Group Inc.

ADVICE: Learn as much as you can about the industry. I think newcomers have an advantage in the sense that a lot of them are from a generation where technology is intertwined in their lives. I don't think they have a lot to learn about the technology side, but learn as much as you can about the insurance industry itself. They would be the best people to take advantage of what I think the trends will be in the next few years.

OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Professional golfer, but that's not in the cards for me. I'm not a very good golfer. That truly is a pipe dream.

FAVORITE MEAL: Really authentic Mexican-style tacos

BOOK: “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand

HOBBIES: I play guitar.

TV SHOW: “Seinfeld”