A year ago, I sat holding tight to an assumption it would only be a couple-few weeks of “this.” We all did, no? We quickly stiff-armed doubts it would be worse (even if our guts told us otherwise), until it was crystal-clear we were not going anywhere for a while.
Advisen had just gotten back from its Cyber Risk Insights Conference in San Francisco. News of the virus was out in the world. We were aware of something happening, but the reality and fear had yet to grind us to a halt. It did get us to thoroughly wipe down our airplane seats and wince when someone coughed three rows behind. A short time later, our cyber conference in London was called off. I had just started packing.
Then everything stopped. Canceled. States announced extraordinary measures to control the spread. Somehow, life trudged on.
COVID-19 was the central focus of the last year, but it most certainly was not the only factor in the historic last 12 months. The world became even more complicated. There were protests over racial injustice, protests over pandemic lockdowns, a presidential election, and an attack on the Capitol. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Civil Rights Act also covers sexual orientation and gender identity. Demands to call out and end sexual harassment and assault, brought to light by the #metoo movement, continued. Under the auspice of climate change, natural catastrophes continued, and record temperatures were set. The Atlantic hurricane season was the most active ever. There were massive wildfires caused by nature and by people.
And insurance was a part of it all – at least in some way, and often in multiple ways. Advisen editors delivered Advisen Front Page News and curated stories to measure all the angles and coverage clashes under the canopy of a hardening insurance marketplace, which started before the pandemic but has been amplified by it. Add in insurance-industry M&A, which certainly took no break.
COVID-19 affected personal auto, event, travel, workers compensation, D&O, EPLI, health, life and most certainly cyber and commercial property insurance coverages. Cyber risk exponentially increased as firms sent employees home to work on laptops. Business interruption claims continue to be litigated in the courts. Our team continues doing its damnedest to stay on top of it all just as you have.
This was not easy for anyone. It’s a point in history none of us are going to forget, especially since the repercussions have yet to be fully realized. Just how much risk has changed – how much the insurance industry, or business, or society has changed – is a matter of educated guesswork.
Over the last year, it was our duty to document the time and bring our vast audience as much information as possible as it unfolded. I could not be prouder of what Advisen Media has accomplished and we hope you’ve benefitted from our news, curated articles, webinars and events.
Some great challenges and opportunities lay ahead for this industry and Advisen, now a Zywave company, will be here to play our role. Let us know how we are doing or share story ideas at adv_editorial@zywave.com.
