Business Leaders Recast Insurance as Strategic Resilience Tool, Not Just a Cost

Why It Matters

Seeing insurance as a strategic resilience tool reshapes risk budgeting, creates new revenue streams for brokers, and helps firms avoid costly exposure gaps.

Key Takeaways

• 43% view insurance as performance driver; only 3% see it as expense.
• Cybersecurity tops risk agenda for 48% of executives worldwide.
• Rising premiums worry 47% of leaders, especially in U.S. and Canada.
• 39% say brokers aren’t consultative enough, revealing service gap.
• 95% demand strong local broker ties plus global coordination.

Pulse Analysis

The latest WBN‑MarshBerry risk‑reality report marks a watershed moment for commercial insurance, with 43 percent of surveyed C‑suite leaders now treating policies as a lever for business performance rather than a line‑item cost. This cultural shift reflects a broader move toward integrated risk management, where insurance is woven into strategic planning alongside innovation and digital transformation. Executives recognize that proactive coverage can safeguard revenue streams, protect brand reputation, and enable faster recovery from disruptions, turning what was once a defensive expense into a competitive advantage.

Cybersecurity emerged as the top concern for 48 percent of global leaders, with AI and economic volatility following closely, underscoring the accelerating complexity of digital risk. Yet the study reveals sizable confidence gaps: a quarter of respondents doubt their coverage for geopolitical events, and 22 percent lack assurance against economic uncertainty. Rising premiums—cited by 47 percent of executives, especially in the United States and Canada—compound these worries, while gaps in cyber and natural‑catastrophe policies leave firms exposed. Insurers must therefore accelerate product innovation, clarify AI‑related exclusions, and offer pricing structures that balance affordability with comprehensive protection.

The broker landscape is also being reshaped. Ninety‑five percent of respondents insist on strong local relationships, and 47 percent value faster response times from on‑the‑ground partners. Yet 39 percent criticize their current insurers for a lack of consultative service, highlighting an opportunity for brokers to differentiate through risk education and tailored solutions. As 74 percent say a failing international broker relationship threatens their accounts, firms are gravitating toward networks that blend global reach with localized expertise. Providers that can deliver real‑time data, ROI analytics, and seamless cross‑border coordination are poised to capture a larger share of the evolving risk‑management market.