Watson’s steady approach at Argo Group

Mark Watson, CEO of Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance firm Argo Group, is a man determined not to get carried away.

Under his leadership, the firm has gone through a thorough process of de-risking, pulling away from business lines that did not promise sufficient rewards and investigating where those options could be found.

Watson says that he sees opportunities for growth, “first, through product innovation and, second, through looking at industries and regions.”

In the developed world, he suggests, that is likely to mean an increasing focus on professional liability, followed by the energy and technology industries, specifically alternative energy cover. But Watson’s focus extends beyond developed western countries.

“When you look at where growth is likely to occur, you immediately think of Asia, India, Russia, different parts of Latin America and parts of the Middle East, but we can’t be everywhere at once,” he says.

“Everyone’s thinking about...