2023 Women to Watch Awards Americas EMEA
Sophie Meiklejohn Head of property claims
Miller Insurance Services LLP
London
After a year working for an insurer, Sophie Meiklejohn realized the brokerage side of the business was where she belonged.
“I moved to Canada when I was 20,” she said. “I managed to wangle my way into the world of insurance.” She spent a year with broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc. and another with Marsh Canada Ltd. “Then my visa ran out, and I came home,” she said.
Back in London, she spent a year at an insurance company. “But the insurer side for me is the dark side. It didn’t work for me,” she said. “I preferred the broking side, so I moved to Price Forbes,” where she spent nearly 10 years before joining Miller earlier this year.
Managing global property claims might be enough, but, as Ms. Meiklejohn said, “I like to get involved in quite a lot of things.” That includes, as a self-proclaimed “data geek,” responsibility for claims data and being a champion for innovation, as well as some claims marketing.
“On the operational side, I like to do the processes and procedures that others might find quite dull,” Ms. Meiklejohn said. “I recognize that it’s an important part of making sure your department runs smoothly.”
Chris McQueeney, executive general adjuster and vice-president at McLarens Global Claims Services, has worked with Ms. Meiklejohn for several years. He said he values her responsiveness and professionalism in managing claims.
“I’m a big proponent of communication and response times,” he said, and “she pays a lot of attention to detail, making sure everything is understood.”
In the post-COVID-19 work environment that can still be confusing to navigate, Ms. Meiklejohn is attentive to her team’s morale. “I sometimes get it wrong, but I try and be quite fun. The team has definitely come together a lot more. … It’s a nice place to be,” she said.
Along with industry peers, Ms. Meiklejohn helped form Women Supporting Women, a group that helps women who re-enter the market after maternity leave or other breaks and are seeking help in advancing their careers.
Michael Bradford
