At-Bay Welcomes Jim Prendergast, Head of Product Compliance and Enablement

Jim Prendergast recently joined At-Bay as our first Head of Product Compliance and Enablement. In this new role, he’ll be focused on accelerating At-Bay’s expansion into new markets.

With nearly three decades of insurance experience, ranging from underwriting to regulatory compliance, Jim adds a new dimension to At-Bay’s expertise. He most recently served as Head of Product Enablement at Hiscox, and prior to that was part of AIG’s Executive Liability Regulatory compliance team.

In all, Jim has overseen the development, regulatory approval, and internal implementation of more than 50 admitted products throughout his career. And as our roadmap expands and we look ahead, Jim’s product compliance experience and versatile background within the insurance world are invaluable qualities. 

We sat down with Jim to chat more about his decision to join the At-Bay team and learn what’s in store for the future:

What made you want to join At-Bay?

This is an amazing opportunity to work with a talented team at a growing company. I’ve been in insurance for a while now and I was really looking for something to get excited about. What I’m most passionate about is building the infrastructure and anticipating what the business will need in the coming years. I’ve done the startup thing before — it’s a rollercoaster, but I love that part — and now seemed like the perfect time. 

How does your role as Head of Product Compliance and Enablement come to life?

There’s the tactical side, which includes things like developing training programs for our underwriting teams, as well as ensuring the underwriters have the reference material they need to confidently address the regulatory challenges of writing Admitted business. And then there’s the task of actually getting products approved nationwide. 

When it comes to regulatory work, I believe the most important part is being a good communicator and collaborator. Truly skilled insurance compliance professionals know how to anticipate questions and proactively address regulatory concerns. We strive for all involved to keep in mind that filing a product with the states is only half the battle — it’s much more  important to do what is necessary to remain in compliance with our product filings as we underwrite. That’s what I’m here to do: make things easier for our underwriters and facilitate the process to make it as seamless as possible.

How do you view the current cyber insurance landscape and where does At-Bay fit into the picture?

The care that’s going into the product is a big part of what attracted me to At-Bay. Since my arrival at At-Bay, I have been blown away by the products and processes — so much thought goes into every offering. The underwriting process is rigorous and the automation is really pushing our capabilities to another level. And with a team of experienced actuaries in place, I think we’re lightyears ahead of the competition at this stage of our growth.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

My favorite pastime is playing with my two sons. In the winter, I work weekends at Hunter Mountain in upstate New York. I’m a Mountain Ambassador, which means my “job” is to answer questions and help people however I can as I hit the slopes all day long!