KEVIN JOHNSON | Age: 34 President, insurance programs

Munich Re Specialty Insurance

Philadelphia

Kevin Johnson joined Munich Re Specialty right out of school through its underwriting graduate trainee program and became president of the programs business unit in October 2019 after 12 years with the company. The son of former Pennsylvania deputy insurance commissioner Stephen Johnson, Kevin Johnson was deliberate about choosing his career, beginning with the risk management program at Temple University.

What’s your top tip for working remotely?

Scheduling, on the personal as well as professional front. Scheduling personal time … has been important for me over the past year. Making sure to carve out that time for family, for working out, etc.

What’s your advice on navigating the current insurance market?

Understanding the nuances of the market right now and the customers and the clients through that lens. It’s not a one-size-fits-all market, and the dynamics are different in different lines, segments, geographies. You must take a very lasered approach.

How will your work change going forward?

The biggest change will be around the way we engage with our partners. The element of more frequent and more casual engagements will supplement in-person meetings.

What should the industry do to attract more young people to work in it?

We need to continue to engage with the colleges and universities that are building the pipeline. Outside of that, the industry needs to do better at articulating why insurance is a great career for a broader audience.

What’s one habit or hobby you adopted during the pandemic?

Taking regular long walks has become part of my routine around getting away from my desk. Good lunchtime walks. I even got a fitness watch to keep me honest.

All-time favorite movie?

“The Shawshank Redemption.”