MARCO VIGNALI | Age: 34 Director of corporate underwriting

Pie Insurance Holdings Inc.

Denver

After obtaining a degree in accounting and audit, Marco Vignali interviewed with several accounting firms, and realized that wasn’t what he wanted to do. While exploring his options, the topic of insurance came up. There was a large brokerage in the area where he ended up being hired. Later, he moved into underwriting at Appalachian Underwriters Inc. He joined Pie Insurance in 2018.

How are technological advances affecting your job?

We’ve done a lot of work to provide the right kind of tools for our team so they can efficiently work through the easy things and spend more time on the complicated risks.

What’s a problem that needs fixing in your sector?

The asymmetry that exists within insurance. We, the carriers, have all the data, so we can predict what is going to happen over time. Insureds often don’t know what all that data means, so they may not understand the impact some catastrophic events can have and why their rates may have gone up.

What’s something about you that would surprise people?

I have somewhat of a southern accent because I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, but I was born in Germany and my parents are British. So, when people listen to my folks talk, they are surprised.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pilot. Unfortunately, I’m a little too tall, and my eyesight is terrible, so when I turned 11 that went out the window. I could take it up as a hobby, but I certainly can’t fly for the Air Force.

Favorite song?

“Everlong,” by Foo Fighters. My wife and I bonded over Foo Fighters when we met, and an acoustic version of the song is what she walked down the aisle to when we got married.