Rethinking tech risk in a rapidly changing world
With offices spanning across the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland, Travelers’ team of technology experts is focused on one goal: identifying challenges within the technology industry, creating solutions and offering real benefits to brokers. Part of this commitment in the ever-evolving market means being agile – something that’s evident in Travelers’ recent team changes.
Since Jon Preston, technology industry practice lead at Travelers, first joined, he’s been committed to building a team that’s not only highly experienced but also focused on future growth and goals.
“We have a very experienced team here at Travelers,” he told IB. “And that’s something we’re super proud of.”
The way Travelers’ team has evolved over the past 12 months is somewhat reflective of shifts and changes in the market, hiring experts that understand emerging risks and challenges first-hand.
AI: solving sector problems with cyber coverage “While AI itself is just a piece of software, it’s enhancing everything,” Preston said. “AI is increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of claims processes; however, it’s also being used by bad actors to enhance the sophistication of their own attacks. At Travelers, we’re aware of the threats these cyber breaches hold. However, there’s a disconnect, and companies are either hyper aware and prepared for the threat or it’s just not on their radar at all.”
A key differentiator for Travelers in this rapidly expanding cyber market is their dedication to pinpointing problems as they emerge – something that requires constant innovation where AI is concerned. Part of this strategy requires having the right people in the right places. And, instead of simply growing the team, Preston positions it as “rebuilding” to become even stronger.
Spotlight
At Travelers, we believe in the power of collaboration. We work hand in hand with insurance brokers to provide specialist insurance solutions that meet your clients’ evolving needs. Our deep segment expertise is your advantage, allowing you to tackle your clients’ unique risk challenges with confidence.
Whether your client is a sole trader, small to medium-sized business or large multinational corporation, we can protect their business as it evolves. We insure businesses in sectors as diverse as financial institutions and solicitors, healthcare and technology, underwriting each risk individually. Our sector-specific expertise helps your clients manage current risks while empowering them to minimise emerging ones.
Company Profile
165
years since Travelers was established
7
regional offices across the UK and Ireland
30,000+
experts worldwide
800+
employees in the UK and Ireland
40
years insuring companies in the tech sector
Bio
Spotlight
Company Profile
“We want to be with brokers and clients when it’s appropriate, demonstrating our expertise and showing them that we’re not just insurance experts – we love what we do”
Jon Preston, Travelers
“Our consistency of strategic approach means we’re refining details rather than making large strategic alterations and understanding where we can be flexible with margins”
Dan Owen, Travelers
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Published 27 Apr 2026
Ryan Murray Burke
Duncan Cowling
Louise Blay
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How Travelers is strengthening its tech team to offer best-in-class benefits for brokers
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Louise Blay
Managing senior underwriter – technology & life science
lblay2@travelers.com
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TRAVELERS LEADERS
“Having that local expertise helps us engage earlier in the placement process, ask the right questions and structure cover that reflects how technology businesses actually operate”
Ryan Murray Burke, Travelers
Travelers
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Being picked to lead ORDE's distribution team
career highlight
3 years
tenure at current position
25
Years of experience
150+
countries providing tailored coverage and support
Travelers Europe
Company
ACII-qualified and Chartered Insurer, as well as 23 years in the insurance industry
Quick Fact
Completed the 26-mile London MoonWalk
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rmurrayb@travelers.com
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Travelers Europe
Company
I have worked in Insurance for over 13 years, including nearly 10 years specialising in the technology sector
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Visited my 37th country this year, and I’m aiming to reach 50 over the next couple of years
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Ryan Murray Burke
Senior technology underwriter
dcowling@travelers.com
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Travelers Europe
Company
32, predominantly in new business
Years in the industry
Successfully renovating a new home in 2025 while still writing business
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Duncan Cowling
New business manager – technology & medtech
jpresto5@travelers.com
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Travelers Europe
Company
CIMA-qualified accountant as well as 22 years in the insurance industry
QUICK FACT
Jon Preston
Practice lead –
technology & medtech
dowen3@travelers.com
Email
Travelers Europe
Company
This is my second tenure at Travelers with a cumulative 11 years here
Quick Fact
Every year, I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, whether hiking, scrambling, sailing or swimming, and am currently preparing for an open-water swimming trip to Mallorca
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Dan Owen
Underwriting manager, technology and life sciences
tjhurst@travelers.com
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Travelers Europe
Company
When I’m not underwriting, my son keeps me busy on weekends with various sports classes
Quick Fact
Proud to have earned a promotion in under 18 months of joining Travelers, reflecting strong performance and dedication to the team
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Tanya Hurst
Lead medtech underwriter
Completed the London Marathon, but never again!
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“The opportunity in medtech and life sciences is huge as innovation continues to outpace traditional risk frameworks”
Tanya Hurst, Travelers
“It’s important to engage verbally and be transparent and clear on what is achievable and what isn’t, so that the broker knows early who can provide solutions for what they and the client need”
Duncan Cowling, Travelers
“Each renewal is an opportunity to prove value, unlock cross-sell potential and drive growth. This position can’t be assumed – we must consistently earn it”
louise blay,
Travelers
Source: Travelers
Tanya Hurst
Dan Owen
Jon Preston
“A lot of our proposition is based on people,” he told IB. “Insurance is still an industry that’s very relationship focused, so you need to have the right balance of technical expertise and the human touch. At Travelers, we focus on people and relationships; we also have the right expertise and support for both brokers and clients, because technology can be a complicated placement.”
‘A true tri-partite relationship’ This commitment to specialised expertise is something that runs through the DNA of Travelers, balancing deep technical underwriting with the commercial realities brokers and clients face today. Dan Owen, Travelers’ technology underwriting manager, told IB that this is something his team practises every day.
“At Travelers, we have 40 years’ worth of experience in the technology sector,” he said. “Our consistency of strategic approach means we’re
“Each renewal is an opportunity to prove value, unlock cross-sell potential and drive growth,” said Blay. “This position can’t be assumed – we must consistently earn it through underwriting excellence and strong relationship management, strengthening our most valuable assets: profitable client and broker relationships.”
More questions, better coverage Clients are evolving just as rapidly as the market is. Their shifting needs and expectations mean that firms must be more responsive and agile, continuously adapting to keep pace. This requires coverage that evolves in line with changing business models and risk profiles –something Travelers is well positioned to deliver.
“In addition to the excellent depth and breadth of experience within our European technology practice, we benefit from significant expertise and knowledge within the wider business – risk control, cyber consultancy,
refining details rather than making large strategic alterations, and understanding where we can be flexible with margins.”
That balance between technical rigour and commercial flexibility ultimately shapes how Travelers approaches day-to-day trading with brokers – something Dunc Cowling, senior managing technology underwriter, new business at Travelers, is well versed in. For him, good trading discipline in the technology market means good communication in order to offer real benefits.
“It’s important to engage verbally and be transparent and clear on what is achievable and what isn’t, so that the broker knows early who can provide solutions for what they and the client needs,” he added. “We provide technical expertise as well as being proactive in finding solutions that are flexible rather than rigid. We often agree to meet clients with brokers, so we add value with our specialist knowledge to develop a true tri-partite relationship.”
But while strong trading discipline is critical in winning new business, the real test lies in how consistently that approach is applied across the existing book. As Louise Blay, senior managing underwriter renewals at Travelers, told IB, a well-written renewal book provides the foundation for critical performance data, pricing accuracy and market insights into the evolving world of technology, which informs future strategy and creates valued stability.
What’s more, as Blay revealed, the technology team’s most important customers are those held in the renewal book – and achieving recognition as the “market of choice” requires continuous effort at each renewal.
legal, our forensic, digital forensic and industrial hygiene labs, for example,” added Owen.
“This really helps us keep our skills and knowledge up to date around emerging and evolving risks. In addition, we have close relationships with our colleagues in the US technology practice who benefit from a larger geographical area and a market with early adoption of some technologies. The State of California experienced early adoption of some robotic applications, for example, so we can share the acquired knowledge between groups to better equip everyone in reaching solutions.”
At Travelers, they identify the problem, they find the solution and they offer genuine value to brokers. This benefit to brokers really centres around enabling and supporting them however they can – it’s all about listening, engaging and understanding, and continually evolving with broker feedback.
“At Travelers, we ask detailed questions about our risks,” added Preston. “And that’s because we’re wholly committed to understanding the client –which coverage and solution is best for them – so that when they need us, we can respond correctly. Our philosophy is that we’ll be here for our brokers and their clients to fully support them in their time of need – and that requires asking the right questions.”
Medtech: understanding the risks and the opportunities This thorough approach is a testament to Travelers’ broker-centric approach, and it’s reflected in all areas of their business. Two areas that Preston and his team are looking closely at this year are the medtech and life sciences sectors, where the opportunities seem endless right now. At Travelers, this department is overseen by Tanya Hurst, lead medtech underwriter.
“The opportunity in medtech and life sciences is huge, as innovation continues to outpace traditional risk frameworks,” Hurst told IB. “With
rapid growth in AI-enabled diagnostics, digital health and next-gen medical devices, companies are bringing complex products to market faster than
ever. For insurers who truly understand the science and regulation, there’s a real chance to become genuine partners to innovators.”
As Hurst went on to explain, what really sets Travelers’ approach to medtech underwriting apart from their competitors is a deep understanding of, and focus on, unique healthcare risks.
“Medtech requires a deep understanding of the science, regulatory pathways and clinical application,” she added. “By assessing exposures during development and testing, we can support innovation while managing the specialised liability risks that come with medical technology.”
With the expansion into new and emerging fields, Travelers is also increasing market penetration in new regions – with the aim of helping their brokers and their clients, wherever they may be located. One location that’s getting a lot of attention right now is Ireland, somewhere Ryan Murray Burke, senior technology underwriter at Travelers, sees as a strategic growth hotspot.
“Ireland combines a highly international business community with strong concentrations in sectors that align closely to our technology appetite software, SaaS, medtech and life sciences,” he told IB. “Many Irish-headquartered firms trade across the UK, Europe and the US, creating more complex risk profiles and a greater need for specialist underwriting, claims and risk management support. This makes Ireland an attractive market for sustainable growth and long-term broker partnerships.
“Having that local expertise helps us engage earlier in the placement process, ask the right questions and structure cover that reflects how technology businesses actually operate, particularly where exposures can be nuanced, such as outsourced services, cloud hosting, data residency and contractual liability too.”
A local presence, a global reach For brokers, this means a smoother day-to-day experience – with the right experience in place from the very beginning. This onus on maintaining a local presence and building local relationships while simultaneously delivering a first-class insurance proposition is core to Travelers’ values. Cowling agrees that even with the best technology, it can never fully replace a face-to-face interaction with clients.
“We all recognise the benefits of virtual meetings, but there’s still no substitute for meeting face to face. AI and online quote engines have a place but, ultimately, having engaging relationships with people you’ve met will always be key.”
That breadth of experience spans both traditional and cyber risk control. For example, if a business has a large property or is a manufacturing type of business, Travelers may want to see their actual operations, so that they can help guide them and provide proactive advice on how their business can be more resilient.
“That’s the first step in what we can do – help them to keep going because interruption is the worst thing for a business,” added Preston. “They don’t want to stop. They don’t want to have that problem. So, if we can provide that proactive advice to stop it happening at all, it’s much better for them and much better for us.”
The same philosophy underpins Travelers’ cyber expertise. The company has a team of cyber risk management consultants that speak the
technical language of cyber clients, helping them avoid potential claim scenarios before they happen.
“It’s about getting to an understanding of the controls that are in place within a tech business – what could be better and how they manage and maintain them over time,” added Preston. “We’ll offer proactive advice to help make them a stronger business. And that can be before they’re even a customer.”
An award-winning claims team And when something does go wrong, the proposition shifts seamlessly from prevention to response from Travelers’ award-winning claims team – who was named one of the Top Insurance Claims Service Providers in the UK in Insurance Business’ 5-Star Claims. Here, Preston confirmed that for Travelers, the ultimate goal is to be there for customers in their time of greatest need.
“We have experts in many different areas and across different types of claims. For a technology customer, they may have cover for their property, their employees, their customers, their products, their contracts and their cyber risks, all under one encompassing policy. When a claim comes in, it will go to the right specialist for the particular area who can handle it in the right way.”
Looking to the future, Preston is optimistic. As he told IB, in the long-term, success is all about staying true to their solution-driven culture – the defining model at the heart of Travelers’ strategy.
“We want to be with brokers and clients when it’s appropriate, demonstrating our expertise and showing them that we’re not just insurance experts – we love what we do. For brokers, it’s important for them to know that we’re with them along the journey, helping them to understand new risks in the market. And, similarly for the team itself, we want to continue to develop our expertise, promote from within and help our people to grow.”
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