Meet the team - Ben Woods Underwriting Manager - Digital

As Underwriting Manager for Automotive Protection, Ben manages the digital direct to consumer business globally, underwriting insurance products for the Automotive industry.

“We are very data driven and focused on developing a sophisticated pricing algorithm, optimising our customer user interface and marketing assets, whilst ensuring our claims process is as efficient as possible resulting in faster claims payments for our customers” he explains.

He elaborates, "The role is wide-ranging, and I enjoy speaking with people from all over the world.”

A journey into insurance

Ben’s journey in the insurance industry began as a Lloyd’s Broker, where he brokered UK Property and Casualty risks. Working in a small team afforded him considerable responsibility early in his career. “I enjoyed the face-to-face trading environment of the Lloyd’s market, where supportive mentors taught me invaluable lessons about the industry.”

“I became familiar with QBE early on, recognising its strong underwriting reputation, particularly in the Casualty market. When I decided to transition into underwriting, QBE was a natural choice.”

Career development at QBE

Over the last 12 years at QBE, Ben has held five different roles, each contributing to his professional growth.

He highlights, “QBE places great emphasis on investing in its people, understanding that this investment drives innovation and growth. The company offers extensive training, leadership courses, and career development opportunities”.

One of the most transformative experiences was a secondment to the QBE Bangkok office, where he led the local Automotive Protection team. “This opportunity pushed me beyond my comfort zone and taught me valuable lessons about leadership and adaptability in a different cultural context” he recalls.

It remains one of the most significant learning experiences of his career and he encourages anyone offered a similar opportunity to embrace it.

QBE's evolution

During his tenure at QBE, he’s witnessed significant transformations. “A pivotal shift has been the move from a product-focused to a customer-centric approach, fostering collaboration across different product lines” he explains. “This transition has led to a more integrated strategy, pooling expertise and delivering consistent messaging to brokers and clients.”

Celebrating success

One of his proudest accomplishments at QBE was being involved in launching a digital-first warranty brand in North America in collaboration with a leading premium financing operation.

The vision was to disrupt a traditionally archaic auto warranty market. This initiative emphasised product simplicity, transparent pricing, and a seamless digital buying experience.

Launched amid the pandemic in April 2020, this project required extensive collaboration across numerous teams, as he looks back, “I take great pride in our collective achievement.”

The future of the industry

Looking ahead, he predicts, “The insurance industry will undergo significant transformation, particularly with the advent of accessible AI technology. This shift promises to provide considerable operational efficiencies, improve underwriting accuracy, and accelerate claims processing. As the role of the underwriter evolves towards portfolio management, there will be an increasing need for upskilling to harness AI effectively.”

He concludes, "Our Automotive Protection team is in a significant growth phase, aiming to triple our premium income by 2027. With a strong emphasis on our digital proposition, we are further investing in our data analytics, claims capabilities, and marketing strategies to expand our reach in new markets.”