ILC LEADER

Matteo Carbone

Job title: Founder and Director

Employer: IoT Insurance Observatory

Sector: Motor Claims

27th February 2019

This week we speak to Matteo Carbone, Founder and Director of the IoT Insurance Observatory.

The Observatory generates and promotes innovation in the insurance sector: representing the cutting edge of global innovation; offering a strategic vision to exploit the connected insurance full potential; stimulating research and debate between the participants

Internationally recognized as an insurance industry strategist with a specialization on innovation, Matteo is an author and world-renowned authority on InsurTech and is ranked among top international InsurTech Influencers.

How did you get to where you are today?

Nothing has been really planned, things seem to have just fallen in to place!

What’s the biggest challenge facing your sector of the industry?

I’m very focused on insurance innovation. The biggest challenge is dealing with buzzwords, “fake news”, and utopian scenarios spread by what I call “innovation cheerleaders”.

How are you and your business dealing with this?

Pragmatism. Trying to keep the balance between the insurance fundamentals and the “shiny new stuff”.

Out of your business achievements, what are you most proud of and why?

My think tank – the IoT Insurance Observatory.  In a couple of years we have been able to aggregate more than 50 members, including  7 of the top 15 P&C US Insurance Groups, 5 of the top 15 European P&C Insurance Groups, 5 of the top 15 European Life Insurance Groups, and 4 of the top 5 Global Reinsurers P&C Insurance Groups – a real achievement!

What advice would you give to anyone starting out in the industry?

To study and really get to grips with the insurance fundamentals.

If you could change anything what would you do to make the insurance industry “Better tomorrow”?

I don’t think the insurance sector is broken. The sector has done a pretty good job in protecting the way people live for a few centuries. However, the way people live changes, so the sector has to evolve too. I hope to see more insurers become increasingly  ambitious and bold in their strategy to stay relevant within the life of their customer.

What’s your top tip for being productive?

I’m not very productive unfortunately. I work a great many hours to make things happen but as I really enjoy what I do this is no great hardship.

What gadget can’t you live without?

The smartphone, I spend more than 8 hours each day in front of the screen.

Talent or Perseverance?

For me it’s got to be Talent

What do you do to switch off or escape from work?

I love what I’m doing so I’ve never been really good at switching off: a good idea can come at any time so a part of my mind is always working even if I’m at dinner or in the gym.

A thought provoking discussion with my network of insurance professionals around work can start on LinkedIn or Twitter even at Christmas or Easter after which I can then spend several hours digging deeper in to the topics we have discussed. No day off for me!