Cyber insurance specialist Emergence Insurance has introduced a new role, head of distribution, promoting Katrina Hickson to the position.
Hickson (pictured) has been with Emergence as the business development underwriter for Queensland and the Northern Territory since March 2021. Prior to joining Emergence, she worked in broker development at Steadfast Group and spent 11 years in premium funding, where she honed her skills in strategy, operations, and process improvement.
“Katrina is very strategic, has the ability to execute plans, and always has brokers’ best interests at heart,” said Emergence CEO and founder Troy Filipcevic. “She is an integral part of the team and has been pivotal in Emergence’s growth.”
In her new capacity, Hickson will focus on strategic leadership, planning, and relationship management to foster the company’s growth. She will lead the business development team, oversee the national accounts strategy, cultivate key partnerships, and expand the company’s presence in Australia and New Zealand.
Hickson said she plans to implement a standardized approach across the distribution network and ensure the business development team is well-equipped.
“I am grateful for the opportunity and for the incredible support I receive from Emergence and from other employers in the past,” she said.
Filipcevic noted that the head of distribution role aligns with Emergence’s continuous growth and will aid in creating and executing broker solutions.
“We needed a coordinated approach across the business. This role will help design solutions for brokers and execute those plans,” he said.
The creation of a new leadership role follows the launch of Emergence’s cybersecurity advisory services designed to assist brokers in enhancing their clients defences against digital threats.
The announcement was made during a webinar attended by 2,400 industry brokers, according to Filipcevic.
Before the launch of the cybersecurity advisory services, Emergence’s cybersecurity incident team was managing 15 incidents, a figure notably lower than its typical monthly average.
cyberSuite, an affiliate of Emergence, aims to provide comprehensive cybersecurity advisory services. It will help businesses understand and mitigate cyber risks, enhancing their preparedness for insurance coverage.
The creation of cyberSuite was driven by significant interest from brokers whose clients were seeking dependable cybersecurity services, including online training and vulnerability assessments.
