We recently caught up with Oscar, the newest addition to our Motor Innovation team, to hear about his background, what excites him about the role, and how he’s approaching underwriting in a fast-evolving space.
Tell us about your background
I have just finished my degree in Economics and have a data-led background so I’ve always been interested in how insights can shape better decisions. That naturally drew me towards underwriting, especially in an area like Motor Innovation, where things are constantly evolving and there isn’t always a clear rulebook.
Tell us more about what attracted you to ERS and Motor Innovation?
As the UK’s largest specialist motor insurer, ERS is a really exciting company to be joining, especially in such an innovative area of the business. In Motor Innovation, areas like Autonomous vehicles and Connected technology are still developing, which means there’s a real gap in traditional data. Motor Innovation covers Connected and Autonomous vehicles, Embedded insurance and On-demand models, so we’re working right at the edge of the market, as thought leaders.
What does your day-to-day look like?
A lot of spreadsheets, which suits me perfectly! Because these risks are relatively new, you can’t always rely on historical data in the same way as traditional motor underwriting. So, a big part of the role is analysing what data we do have, identifying patterns, and building a view of risk from there. Working out how to bridge that data gap is what makes it so interesting.
What excites you most about the future of motor?
Autonomous vehicles are definitely one of the most exciting areas. There’s still so much to learn, and underwriting has a key role to play in understanding and pricing that risk properly at all stages of rollout across the country. I’m also really interested in shared mobility. As someone from Gen Z, the idea of not necessarily owning a car but accessing one when you need it just makes sense. It feels like a natural shift, and it’s going to have a big impact on how motor insurance evolves. Another really exciting part of the role is the opportunity to work directly with major OEMs like JLR and Bolt as well as key brokers in this space. That exposure is something you don’t typically get in a standard underwriting role. And with Starr now involved, the scale of what we can do is even bigger, so it feels like a really exciting time to be part of it.
What are you most looking forward to?
Developing my underwriting skills in an area where there’s no fixed template. Being part of a close-knit team, and learning from experienced colleagues like Jack and Suraj, is incredibly motivating. I’m excited about how much I’ll be able to develop and grow. Motor Innovation gives you the chance to think differently, use data creatively, and be part of shaping how the market develops.
And when you’re not focussed on Motor Innovation, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I play a lot of sport - golf, tennis, football and cricket… so I like to keep busy outside of work as well. I’m also up in Leeds quite a lot visiting my girlfriend, which is always something I look forward to.
