May 29, 2025

’25 recap: COB RMI students visit London

A group of College of Business students and faculty stand smiling in front of Buckingham Palace on a sunny day in London, surrounded by tourists.
Students and faculty pose at a scenic overlook in Greenwich Park with the London skyline and historic Royal Naval College in the background.
College of Business students dressed in business attire pose with faculty and hosts in the corporate lobby of MS Amlin, a reinsurance company in London.
Students and faculty gather for a group photo during a professional visit to Amwins Global, posing inside the firm’s modern London office.
A group of ECU business students and faculty pose with staff in front of U.S. and U.K. flags at Cincinnati Global's office in London.
The student group stands on the lawn in front of a tall stone tower and fortified wall at Warwick Castle during a historical excursion.

Eleven students and two faculty members from the Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) concentration in the College of Business traveled to London, United Kingdom, to study the international property and casualty insurance market and Lloyd’s of London, May 12–18, 2025.

Lloyd’s of London is the world’s leading insurance marketplace, known for underwriting high-risk and specialty insurance not commonly available in traditional insurance markets. Originating in the 17th century as a coffee house frequented by merchants, shipowners, and underwriters, Lloyd’s has grown into a global hub for insurance and reinsurance solutions. Its unique structure of brokers, syndicates, and underwriters allows for innovative approaches to risk-sharing on a worldwide scale.

The students — Tyler Bonds, Ryan Carasiti, Christina Chaiken, Graci Hill, McKayla Knauss, Jake Phlippeau, Sara Scarborough, Chandler Walton, Ashton Whaley, Raegan White, and Morgan Windley —were accompanied by faculty members Professor Kurt Fickling and Dr. David Pooser, along with Rebecca Shigley and Eva Vanston from the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC). The group visited several key firms operating within the London specialty insurance market, including Fidelis Partnership, Cincinnati Global Underwriting, Gallagher Global, AmWins Global Risk, and MS Amlin.

At Cincinnati Global, Mr. Nigel Campbell led a guided tour of Lloyd’s of London, highlighting its transformation from a maritime intelligence hub to the world’s premier marketplace for complex insurance and reinsurance. During office visits, students engaged with brokers and underwriters to gain insight into international insurance operations, high-risk underwriting practices, and the integral role reinsurance plays in stabilizing global insurance markets.

Beyond the educational component, the group also explored British heritage sites including Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford University. Students visited the Prime Meridian in Greenwich and enjoyed time to explore and shop in central London.

The experience offered students, faculty, and IIANC guests a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the global insurance industry. Special thanks to the North Carolina Surplus Lines Association for funding the trip and to the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina for their continued support of the COB RMI program.