Richard Lewis

Insurance Risk, Strategy and Performance @ IAG

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

About

I bring 10+ years’ financial services experience, grounded in corporate strategy and extended through leadership roles in technology delivery, direct distribution, portfolio management and risk oversight. I lead with an enterprise view, with an ability to integrate across the value chain to develop and execute on strategy.

Experience

  • Manager - Emerging Insurance Risks & Opportunities at IAG
    Aug 2025 - Present · 1 yr

    As part of the Group Chief Underwriting Office, I lead a team responsible for emerging insurance risks and opportunities. My objective is to help IAG understand and adapt to major trends before they materially impact portfolio performance. This includes technology trends (e.g. artificial intelligence, cyber, electrification), climate trends (e.g. physical, transition, litigation) and a range of other legal, social inflation and geopolitical trends. We lead external scanning and deep dive research, chair an enterprise working group, oversight management responses and report into the relevant executive and board committees. Additional to this, I also manage the Group's responsible underwriting policies relating to emerging ESG risks in underwriting. This includes setting appetite guardrails (e.g. fossil fuels exposure), exceptions management and external reporting.

  • QBE Insurance (5 yrs 10 mos)
    • Head of SME, Digital
      Nov 2022 - Dec 2024 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      Led commercial P&L, technology build and go to market strategy for new direct (online and assisted) channels for small business insurance. • Commercial P&L: Accountable for P&L outcomes. Responsible for channel levers including market price and underwriting appetite within product limits, cost to acquire (marketing, offers, commissions) and OPEX allocation. Scaled the business profitably with growth 50% faster than planned. • Technology build: Digital Product Owner for a globally distributed full-stack development squad. Set and executed a growth roadmap including new customer segments, product features and digital experience enhancements. Delivered all OKRs on time and within budget, including doubling the online conversion rate. • Go to Market: Responsible for strategy development and customer experience, owned digital channels and oversaw assisted channels, led first line risk and value chain coordination. Time inclusive of eight-months career break leave.

    • Senior Strategy Manager
      Mar 2022 - Oct 2022 · 8 mos

      Led the strategy practice through a comprehensive five year strategy refresh including vision setting, market analysis, customer strategy, portfolio and growth strategy, operating model design and transformation planning. Responsible for project delivery, people leadership and executive engagement. Resulted in joint executive and board approval of the strategy and a multi-year transformation program including core replatforming.

    • Strategy Manager
      Mar 2019 - Feb 2022 · 3 yrs

      Helped establish a new strategy team at QBE. Led a diverse range of projects including business strategy (AUSPAC), divisional strategy (Consumer, SME, Midmarket, New Zealand), functional strategy alignment (product, pricing, technology), customer strategy (segmentation, CVP, journeys), transaction support (M&A), external sensing (megatrends, strategic risk) and business planning (investment prioritisation)

  • National Australia Bank (4 yrs)
    • Senior Strategy Analyst
      Oct 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 4 mos

      Supported the Wealth Management Leadership Team on strategy development. Developed a foundational strategy toolkit including project management, workshop facilitation, executive presentations and strategic decision support. Led financial modelling to assess the standalone viability of a demerged MLC business, presenting findings to the CFO prior to the market announcement. Recognised with a CFO award for distinguished service. Advised the Wealth Management division on reshaping the Financial Advice and Licensee economic model post-Royal Commission.

    • Strategy Analyst
      Aug 2016 - Sep 2017 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Supported the Consumer Banking Leadership Team on strategy development. Developed a foundational strategy toolkit including business analysis, structured problem‑solving, stakeholder engagement, financial modelling and writing for executive audiences. Advised the Consumer Banking division on reshaping the Home Lending distribution strateg (channel economics, portfolio mix, share of wallet, lifetime customer value) and the uBank CEO on operating model design (governance model, RACI clarity, product and technology decision rights)

    • Graduate Analyst
      Feb 2015 - Jul 2016 · 1 yr 6 mos

      Rotational program with Finance and Strategy roles across the business.