2021 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Jessica Kirby Head of commercial management liability, U.K., executive and professional lines
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co.
London
Jessica Kirby joined the insurance industry unexpectedly as a young graduate, and the encouragement and support of “good people” have helped ensure that she is still in the sector more than a decade later.
She had not considered insurance as a career but joined American International Group Inc. in 2008 as an assistant on its directors and officers liability insurance team.
“I was fairly quickly asked to help on the underwriting side and from there my career has blossomed. But it was the encouragement of the team leaders along with others in the business that made the difference,” she said. “Before I knew it, I had been with the firm for two years and could see a career ahead of me.”
After moving to Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.’s financial lines department in 2013, she joined Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. in 2018 and was promoted last month from senior underwriter, commercial D&O, to head of commercial management liability.
“We started from scratch and now there are 11 of us,” she said. “Our management have been so supportive, encouraging everyone to develop their career and providing us the right opportunities to grow.”
She remains excited by the industry and believes there is much more for her to do.
Vanessa Maxwell, country manager, U.K., for Berkshire Hathaway, praised Ms. Kirby’s leadership and hard work.
“Jess continues to be an active member in our team and a great example for our junior teammates to learn from. Because of Jess’ stellar underwriting and direction, Berkshire Hathaway is in a strong position to lead the financial lines market.”
Outside of work, Ms. Kirby is married with a lockdown dog: a cocker spaniel that takes a lot of her spare time. Pre-lockdown she found time for running, including half marathons. And she and her husband moved this summer back to her home county of Bedfordshire and are busy revamping their new property.
