Richard James is the Senior Vice President and Head of MGA and Embedded Markets at HSB, the Hartford Steam Boiler. HSB is a Munich Re company specializing in equipment breakdown and specialty insurance. Rich leads the team that unlocks MGA partnerships and embedded insurance solutions in the US. He has spent more than 14 years with Munich Re and HSB. His experience spans the UK, Europe, and the United States. Richard James spoke at the 2025 InsurTech Spring Conference on the panel “Leveraging MGAs for R&D,” alongside Tarun Chopra, Josh Bjorkman, Nicole Perrault, and Nick Scott.
Rich has led innovation and insurtech partnerships for more than eight years. He helps startups and MGAs co-create next-generation insurance offerings. His work covers delegated authority capacity and scalable embedded solutions. Before his current role, he served as Alternative Distribution AVP at HSB.
Rich began his career at Munich Re in London. He worked as a data analyst and technical accountant in life reinsurance. He then moved into business development for life reinsurance and special enterprise risks. He later joined Digital Partners, a Munich Re company, as a Partner Engagement Manager for Europe and then Commercial Manager.
His product experience spans a wide range of lines. These include life and health, cyber, corporate specialty, pet, homeowners, and equipment breakdown. He holds a BSc with honours in Architectural Design and Technology from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and a diploma in accounting and business from ACCA.
Rich is a returning InsurTech NY speaker. He also joins the 2026 panel “Human Side of New Product Launch,” moderated by Kristie Galvani, alongside Denise Olson and Nicole Perrault.
