Jonathan Rake, CEO, Risk Data Solutions: Swiss Re: The case for certainty and real-time insight in insurance (380)

InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

InsTech

Entrepreneurship, Investing, Business

4.8 • 50 Ratings

🗓️ 9 November 2025

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Matthew Grant sits down with Jonathan Rake, CEO of Risk Data Solutions at Swiss Re, to explore how a major reinsurer is building data and analytics as core capabilities beyond traditional risk‑transfer. Jonathan explains why the shift matters, how analytics are being embedded in real‑time workflows, and what insurers and corporates should focus on as risk becomes more interconnected and dynamic. In this conversation, Jonathan shares: Why Swiss Re launched Risk Data Solutions and how it leverages internal analytics for client value How “certainty of insight” and real‑time decision‑making are redefining insurance workflows The differing risk‑analysis needs of large corporates versus insurers, and what each must prioritise How Swiss Re approaches partnerships: enabling versus enriching, and why you cannot go it alone The acquisition of Fathom (UK) and how model‑blending is raising the accuracy bar in catastrophe modelling His approach to leadership, maintaining balance outside work and keeping pace with change A bold prediction for 2026 — and the book he recommends to anyone interested in adventure, risk and innovation 'A Voyage for Madmen' by Peter Nichols If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Jonathan Rake or Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning. Continuing Professional Development This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme. By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives: Specify the tools and workflows that allow insurers to consume insights directly within underwriting platforms. Measure the business case for embedding analytics in risk workflows versus maintaining separate data functions. Produce a clearer understanding of how large insurers are operationalising resilience through data, modelling and partnerships. If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 380 page of the InsTech website or email [email protected] to let us know you have listened to this podcast. To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, welcome or welcome back to the InSTech podcast, Zoya here.
0:15.2	And this week, Matthew is joined by Jonathan Rake.
0:19.1	As CEO of Risk Data Solutions at Swiss Rhee, Jonathan's helping clients,
0:24.6	insurers, corporates and the public sector, move from static risk views to decisions powered by
0:30.0	real-time, trusted insight. He shares by Swiss Rhee built a single source of truth, how
0:36.2	integrators' intelligence gets data to the right
0:38.7	user and the right moment, and the partnership playbook, enabling pricing and underwriting
0:43.9	workforce on one side, enriching models with AI and machine learning on the other.
0:49.4	We also go inside Fathom, local flood accuracy at global scale and the case for model blending.
0:54.9	So tune in to find out more on what changes when you bring Swiss Re's internal tools to market.
1:00.8	Where does certainty meet speed? And which risks are reshaping buying behaviour right now?
1:07.5	Lean in, grab a coffee and enjoy the conversation.
1:27.4	Jonathan, it's great to be, greatly talking to you. You're not only based in Zurich, I think, but you're actually in London today? I am indeed. I'm
1:29.0	sitting in the, as it's affectionately known, the Gorkin building in London. Good morning. You think you're more like getting into your office coming in from Zoro and I did from South London trying to get into the office today. It's all the tube network seems to be down. So, great to speak to you. last podcast I saw you did was actually on a boat in Monte Carlo so I'm afraid we don't
1:45.4	neither have a boat in Monte Carlo,
1:44.7	so I'm afraid we don't neither have a boat nor a sea view, but I'm sure it will be okay. So I was just going to give a bit of intro to Swissery, and then we're going to kick things off for that. That's okay. Excellent. And that was on a boat. It was also very hot and humid, so I'm more comfortable at this point.
2:05.6	Well, we're great fans of the reinsurance podcast with Ben and Jared, so it was really good to listen to that one.
2:06.9	But hopefully this will be, we'll cover some of different areas or additional areas to what
2:11.5	covered on that.
2:12.8	So, Swiss Re, it doesn't need much introduction, particularly people, for in the insurance world.
2:16.6	You're one of the largest reinsurance companies. You're helping insurers, also corporations and governments manage
2:21.6	complex risk. You're known amongst other things for expertise in catastrophe, life, financial risks,
	...

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