AM Best: Benchmarking EMEA Ratings – Improving Credit Quality, but Common Themes Highlighted as Weaknesses

Joseph Roethel, director, AM Best, discusses two Best's Special Reports that found no catastrophe-driven P/C impairments following three years of elevated storm losses, while recent health impairments include a number of troubled affiliates.

Ben Diaz-Clegg, associate director, analytics, AM Best, discusses a Best's Special Report that finds the stability of macroeconomic conditions through 2024 and 2025, in addition to generally robust levels of profitability in many segments, underpinned the strengthening of key balance sheet strength fundamentals.

Jason Ragsdale, AVP risk management technical specialization at Nationwide, discusses a company survey revealing while more than 90% of commercial property owners are confident in their buildings’ structural integrity, fewer than 40% feel fully protected against severe weather, highlighting a gap between awareness and preparedness.

David Blades, associate director, AM Best, discusses a new Best's Special Report that finds muted insured catastrophe losses during the second half of 2025 significantly benefitted net underwriting income for the year.

Hollie Campe-Astridge, assistant vice president in the Sports & Recreation Department at Philadelphia Insurance Cos., said health and wellness trends are continuing to support demand for outdoor experiences.

David Bock, associate vice president, head of Midwest and West Public D&O for Nationwide’s commercial liability team, discusses how micro- and small-cap public companies differ from larger public companies in risk profile, claims activity and governance structure.

Brian Botkin, chief underwriting officer at MSIG USA, said that the company’s growth has come through a very disciplined underwriting approach and a build-out of its specialty underwriting capabilities.

Majesco Chief Strategy Officer Denise Garth, who is regarded as one of the most influential executives in insurance, has built expertise with leveraging both the analytical and creative sides of her brain for her role at the insurance software developer and also when she guides startups.

Jennifer Kostyrna, director of product management, identity solutions at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, explains how generative AI is rapidly transforming the identity risk landscape for personal lines insurers, enabling more sophisticated and scalable fraud across the policy life cycle.

Senior Associate Editor Steve Hallo discusses his BestWire story detailing how The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services intends to suspend enrollment in Elevance Health Inc.’s Medicare Advantage Part D over persistent noncompliance with risk-adjustment data reporting rules.