Mastering Delegated Authority through Governance
Delegated Authority is a powerful tool for Insurers, MGAs, and Coverholders, but only if it’s managed effectively. Governance, compliance, and operational oversight are no longer a ‘nice to have’; they are business critical. Consumer Duty has increased regulatory expectations, and with evolving market pressures, businesses need to rethink how they structure, monitor, and drive increased value from their Delegated Authority arrangements.
In episode 4 of GreenKite’s ‘Ask the Expert’ podcast series, Managing Delegated Authority through Governance, hosted by Sara Ager, CEO of GreenKite, she talks to Richard Marshall, CUO at Antares, about the effectiveness of delegation and what changes should be made to drive profitability.
The foundations of effective delegation
Richard Marshall believes it all starts with strong governance, clear oversight, and data-driven decision-making.
‘CUOs today must think beyond risk and pricing. We have to take ownership of governance, regulatory expectations, and oversight,’ Richard explains. ‘Working closely with compliance, legal, and data teams is no longer optional – it’s essential.’
At GreenKite, we help businesses design and embed governance frameworks that ensure accountability, transparency, and efficiency in delegated arrangements. Whether it’s onboarding new Coverholders, reviewing compliance obligations, or improving operational workflows, our team collaborate with Insurers and MGAs to build frameworks that support long-term success.
Governance and risk management: Setting up for success
Using due diligence as a risk management tool is a non-negotiable within Delegating Authority. Thorough onboarding question sets linked to risk appetite ensure insurers have a comprehensive understanding of their partners’ processes and operational capabilities before a single policy is even written. Having this level of detail at onboarding should mean that attestation at renewal is a real possibility, streamlining the renewal timelines and supporting the commercial proposition.
Key steps for better risk management in delegation:
- Pre-delegation assessment: conducting in-depth due diligence on potential partners, evaluating their underwriting performance, financial strength, risk management, compliance and operational capabilities
- Governance frameworks: establishing clear reporting structures and defining roles and responsibilities to maintain ongoing management of controls and effective oversight of delegated arrangements
- Continuous oversight: implementing structured review processes throughout the duration of the contract, monitoring performance, and mitigating risk
Data: The backbone of Delegated Authority
Without the right data, oversight is impossible. Richard highlights the importance of clean, actionable data in tracking underwriting performance, ensuring compliance and managing risks by stating that good governance depends on good data – it’s that simple! Without reliable reporting, you’re flying blind.
GreenKite works with insurers and MGAs to implement operational processes supported by data that support real-time decision-making and regulatory reporting. By aligning technology, processes, and governance, we help businesses turn raw data into meaningful insights that drive better outcomes.
Consumer Duty and the cultural shift in delegation
Consumer Duty is a fundamental shift in how underwriting businesses manage customer outcomes.
Sara explains: ‘Businesses need to move away from seeing Consumer Duty as a burden and start viewing it as an opportunity. The firms that embed governance, transparency, and strong oversight into their delegated arrangements now will be the ones that thrive in the long run. Our experience of clients integrating Consumer Duty into their governance frameworks ensures they stay ahead of regulatory expectations while maintaining underwriting profitability.
Looking ahead
Delegated Authority is about building partnerships that last, ensuring transparency, and creating long-term value and profitability. By embedding strong governance, smarter data strategies, and continuous oversight, businesses can turn delegation from a compliance challenge into strategic competitive advantage.
Why should you listen to this episode?
This episode is a must-listen for Insurers, MGAs, and CUOs looking to enhance their Delegated Authority frameworks. Sara Ager and Richard Marshall discuss strategies for managing governance challenges, ensuring compliance, and making delegation work better for everyone involved. If you want to strengthen your oversight, improve your data strategy, and future-proof your business, this episode is for you!
Listen to episode 4
