Episode 7 – Insuring The Digital Future With HDI Global

Welcome to the seventh episode of Platform Disco! Today, our guest is Ulf Koenig, Head of IT Coordination & Strategy @ HDI Global. HDI Global supports clients in various industries by offering services beyond traditional risk transfer, utilizing risk engineers and initiatives like virtual reality for risk assessment. WHAT IS THE EPISODE ABOUT? We delve into the significance of digital companies and startups in the insurance sector. We talk about the challenges of insuring digital companies and ensuring adequate coverage for evolving risks, emphasizing specialized expertise in areas like IoT. HDI Global has a dedicated unit for digital solutions to address the unique insurance needs of digital businesses The conversation also touches on the increasing importance of ESG commitments in the insurance industry. While there is no specific line of business for ESG commitments, HDI Global guides clients towards sustainability goals, integrating ESG factors into underwriting decisions. They emphasize the role of insurance companies as partners in clients’ transformation journeys, helping navigate challenges like ESG commitments, digital transformation, and risk management. Finally, we talk about the company’s internal organization evolution towards incorporating AI and data analytics capabilities, aligning traditional data experts with newer AI specialists. The company’s approach includes a center of excellence for data analytics and AI to enhance decision-making processes. They focus on areas like predictive maintenance, leakage prevention, and process optimization, aiming to empower employees with data-driven tools and recommendations.

About the Podcast

Gain firsthand insights into the challenges and triumphs experienced by top executives, providing you with the knowledge and inspiration to effectively design, build, and expand your marketplace initiatives.  

Platform Disco has episodes in English and German with new releases dropping 7 AM CEST every Wednesday. To learn more, explore the individual episode listings below.

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Meet the Hosts

Alex Pesjak

VP, EMEA

Alex is a seasoned platform professional who is passionate about creating value in ecosystems and platforms. With a deep understanding of strategy, transformation, and innovation, he is driven by the vision of a thriving Ecosystem Economy across Europe and beyond. Pesjak specializes in aligning purpose, ambition, and circularity to create strategic frameworks that drive success. He is skilled in transforming legacy businesses while simultaneously leading ecosystems through agile and dual operating models.

Alex has a 20 year Brand and Innovation Background in Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods while working as a consultant for the last 12 years in the fields above. With a passion for creating value for all stakeholders, he is dedicated to driving the transformation to networked business models and organizations. Alex currently serves as McFadyen Digital’s VP, EMEA as a leader in their Strategic Advisory practice.

David Detjen

Sales Director

David is a digital professional with over 15 years in e-commerce as well as on the operator and partner sides of the equation in a variety of roles. This experience, both operating a platform in the form of an online marketplace, and serving in more of a consultative role, provides David with a unique perspective, able to “walk in the shoes” of far more than most while providing solutions.

Prior to joining McFadyen Digital, David honed his skills at the likes of Siemens, Arvatis, Mindcurv (Accenture Song), and Eccelerate, helping clients to transform their digital commerce capabilities. With McFadyen Digital, David continues this work leveraging the advantages of composable MACH approach to technology while utilizing the latest platform business models to provide scalable growth to his clients.

Peter C. Evans

Chief Strategy Officer

Before becoming the Chief Strategy Officer at McFadyen Digital, Peter Evans was a Managing Partner at the Platform Strategy Institute, a consultancy dedicated to management strategy and application of platform business models across a wide range of sectors. Dr. Evans has over 20 years of experience leading teams in identifying, framing, assessing, and communicating high-priority marketplace trends and disruptions that support business planning and investment prioritization.

Peter received his master’s degree and Ph.D. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an International Academy of Management Fellow. He is also the co-chair of the MIT Platform Strategy Summit and the Founder of MusicTech Connect in Atlanta.

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