Not Your Typical CTO - Taking a different path to insurance tech leadership with Daren Rudd, VP Insurance Consulting at CGI
In this episode of Beyond the Desk, Mark Thomas is joined by Daren Rudd, Head of Insurance Business and Technology Consulting at CGI. Daren is a self-proclaimed "non-traditional CTO" whose route into insurance technology started not with a computer science degree, but a geography course and a job in marketing. Daren's path is a masterclass in curiosity, resilience and leadership that prioritises strategic impact over ego or titles.
We delve into the pivotal moments that have shaped his 30+ year career, including a decade at Hiscox, a stint at Brit, the leap into consulting, and his current leadership role at CGI. Along the way, we explore how insurance businesses are tackling modernisation, the risks of layering AI on legacy, and why tech leaders need to stop pretending they have all the answers.
Whether you're a current or aspiring leader, Daren's story offers an honest and refreshingly practical view on what good leadership actually looks like in insurance tech today.
Key Topic Discussed:
- Why Daren swapped marketing for tech (with no formal background)
- What makes a great BA and why it's not just a stepping stone
- Leading without being the expert: lessons in facilitation
- The danger of "AI as a silver bullet" for legacy systems
- What today’s insurance clients really need: clarity, resilience, and pragmatism
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New episodes drop every Tuesday. Stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of insurance and InsureTech. 🎧
