Insurtech company JAVLN has appointed David Leach as its new chief executive officer, effective Oct. 14.
Leach (pictured, left) will replace the company’s founder, Dale Smith (pictured, right), who will transition to the role of chairman after leading the business for over a decade.
Smith, who launched JAVLN in 2011, shared his thoughts on the leadership transition, noting the significance of stepping down.
“When you build a company like JAVLN from the ground up, there’s a huge amount of pride there of course, and it was a decision I didn’t make lightly,” he said.
He said that he has thoroughly enjoyed the past decade, and he looks forward to continuing to help grow the company as its chairman.
Smith will remain the company’s majority shareholder. Kerry McIntosh, the current chair, will continue to serve on the board.
Leach previously served as CEO of a New Zealand-based software firm specialising in inventory management. He brings extensive experience in scaling technology businesses and has been involved with JAVLN as a board member for the past four months, during which he has contributed to the company’s strategic direction.
“JAVLN is extremely well positioned for growth and fresh leadership from someone like David, who has a strong track record with scaling tech companies,” he said.
Leach’s appointment marks a key leadership change at JAVLN as it prepares to scale its operations globally. The firm has been expanding its executive team in 2024 to support these growth ambitions.
JAVLN, one of the top insurtech companies across the globe and one of the best service providers (insurtech) this year, provides a cloud-based platform designed for insurance brokers and underwriting agencies. Its technology aims to streamline policy management and compliance in real time, with a focus on improving operational flexibility for insurance firms.
The insurtech company has reshuffled its leadership amid growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) within the insurance industry.
A global survey by UserTesting, conducted by Talker Research, surveyed 4,000 adults across Australia, the US, and the UK to gauge attitudes toward AI and insurance.
According to the study, 88% of participants prefer receiving insurance advice from a person rather than AI. However, 25% of Australian respondents acknowledged that AI could be helpful in making complex insurance information easier to understand. Additionally, 45% said they believe AI could play a useful role in comparing insurance policies.
In Australia, 32% of respondents reported difficulties understanding their insurance coverage, and 27% expressed concerns about sudden increases in premiums. Another 23% mentioned challenges with filing claims.
Confidence in understanding coverage varies by type of insurance. Australian respondents showed the highest confidence in auto insurance (72%) and health insurance (69%), but felt less knowledgeable about dental insurance (42%) and pet insurance (41%).
As AI technology becomes more integrated into the insurance industry, its role in assisting consumers is expected to grow.
However, as Bee Nookala, principal marketing manager for insurance solutions at UserTesting, noted, “AI offers insurers a way to help customers navigate complex policies more efficiently, provided human support is always an option when needed.”
The survey’s findings suggest that while there is potential for AI to improve the insurance experience, transparency and ease of use remain critical to addressing consumer pain points. AI may provide insurers with an opportunity to simplify processes, but its success will depend on balancing technological solutions with human interaction.
