Q&A: Introducing Kumu Kumar
Kumu Kumar, Head of Zurich Resilience Solutions UK and Chief Risk Engineering Officer UK, started his career in chemical engineering, before an unexpected turn of events led him to a path he might never have originally considered. Here, Kumu discusses how he got into the insurance sector and an impressive career moment he’ll never forget.
1. How did you get into the insurance sector?
I graduated in chemical engineering and when you graduate in a topic like that, the natural push is to go into that industry. And that’s what I did for ten years. I was then made redundant, so started to think about what I wanted to do with my life and if I wanted to do something different. I started to apply for jobs in line with my past role, but then I also started looking for ‘wildcards’ as well. One of the wildcards was a job for RSA, as they were recruiting chemical experts to help with risk engineering. I decided to apply and the more I learnt about the role and the further I went through the interview process - it stopped being a wildcard and turned into my number one option. I got the job and it’s a decision I am so happy I made.
2. What have been your career highlights?
In one of my previous roles, I worked with a client who was a crisp manufacturer, with old and insufficient fire protection equipment. I recommended the introduction of a much more effective solution, which was a water mist system. I managed to convince the customer that the protection needed improvement and they went ahead and purchased and installed the new unit. Unbelievably, a week after the new equipment was installed, their deep fat fryer production line caught fire – but the unit I recommended successfully controlled the incident. Within hours of the fire, the client had cleaned up, reset the equipment and production was again underway. I felt like a celebrity when I was invited back to the client’s premises by the MD - I had no knowledge as to why people were tapping me on the back as I was walking through the building. The customer subsequently told me what had happened and explained that if the site had burned down, the employees would have been out of jobs as they wouldn't have rebuilt it.
3. What is the main focus of your role?
The main focus of my role as Head of Zurich Resilience Solutions UK and Chief Risk Engineering Officer UK is to provide risk consultancy services for customers. Zurich has launched a new global business unit, Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS), to help companies manage risk more effectively and improve their risk profile. It’s available to both current Zurich customers who have an insurance policy with us, as well as non-Zurich customers. The concept involves taking the skill sets that we use primarily for underwriting reassurance, but using it to be more targeted towards customer needs, along with developing new services too.
Through ZRS, 150 risk specialists will design and deliver risk services for customers from a wide range of industries, in order to build a package of solutions to help them best manage their risks. It also supports customers’ across a wide range of insurance lines of business, such as property conservation, employers liability and motor. But takes things further, into areas that customers need assistance with, such as risk register development, identification of key dependencies, safeguarding and well-being. In addition, we have partnered with third party experts to ensure we can provide the best suite of in-depth expertise. It also includes services that Zurich Group has recently launched in the areas of climate change, supply chain and cyber risk management.
4. What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
I've been blessed over the years. I've always sought out mentors that not only act as coaches to help me with technical blind spots, but mentors that really challenge me. I can safely say that the best piece of advice I've been given was from Doctor Bullock in the coal industry: ‘Your career is yours and yours alone to manage’.
5. What would you do if you weren’t working in the insurance industry?
I sometimes wonder that, because I always wanted to be a drummer in a rock band if I'm honest! I think I would be working in the chemical industry though; as I came to terms with the fact I wasn't going to be big in the music industry quite early on, having played in a band in pubs and clubs whilst at university!
6. What one thing would people be surprised to know about you?
I'm an introvert that's learnt to be extrovert. I've always known that as a technical expert, I was a bit of a bookworm and a bit quiet. But over the years, I've learnt that you have more fun when you're an extrovert.
7. What do you love about working at Zurich?
I love the people. It's as simple as that. At Zurich, our common goal is always collaborative and all about the customer. Therefore because of that shared goal, it doesn't matter where you work, whether its claims, underwriting, risk engineering, it could be a part of the business that services internal or external customers – but the number one focus is always on the customer. It's that collaboration and putting the customer first that is really strong at Zurich.
