Global strength, local delivery

As insurers brace for a tightening market defined by rising geopolitical tensions, climate uncertainty and margin pressures, RSA is positioning its Specialty Lines business for longterm sustainability and customercentric delivery.

The announcement that RSA will rebrand to Intact Insurance later this year reinforces Intact’s Global Specialty Lines strategy, rooted in global capability and delivered with local precision.

“This isn’t just a name change,” says Jonathan Cope, managing director at RSA. “It’s about reinforcing our commitment to being a global player that understands and delivers expert solutions at the local level. Customers don’t want over-complexity. They want continuity, clarity and a partner who is easy to do business with and is present when it matters most.”

RSA, part of Intact Financial Corporation, will continue to operate under the RSA brand until the official rebrand takes effect later in 2025.

STAYING CLOSE IN A SHIFTING WORLD

The heightened risk landscape is forcing insurers and customers alike to re-evaluate priorities. Growing militarisation in conflict areas like the Red Sea, intensifying climate events and the fragility of global supply chains are no longer theoretical risks, they are daily operational realities.

For RSA, the approach is rooted in proximity and partnership. “We’ve never believed in one-size-fits-all,” says Cope. “Whether you’re a global logistics firm navigating volatile trade routes or a manufacturer moving high-value project cargo, we aim to deliver solutions that reflect the real challenges our customers are facing on the ground.”

RSA’s Global Marine offering is a case in point. From Stock Throughput cover that follows goods across manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, to Project Cargo, a specialist form of marine cargo insurance with embedded delay-in-startup protection, the product set is built for today’s fragmented and high-stakes logistics environment.

“Our marine specialists understand that supply chains don’t stop at the port,” Cope explains. “They are involved throughout the life cycle of the cargo, especially when there are complex routes or critical delivery schedules that simply can’t slip.”

INNOVATION UNDER PRESSURE

The next insurance cycle is expected to challenge the industry’s capacity for innovation. With cost pressures mounting, many businesses are returning to price-first decision-making.

Cope acknowledges the shift but argues that RSA’s ability to pair value with tailored delivery puts it in a strong position. “Bespoke doesn’t have to mean expensive,” he says. “Our Customer Innovation offering is built around co-creation with leading market customers. That means we don’t just offer terms, we offer ideas, risk insights and solutions that are grounded in commercial reality.”

The Specialty Lines team works in close alignment with RSA’s Global Network, which spans more than 150 territories with support from 130 global partners. That scale gives RSA the tools to serve multinational customers with more responsive, cost-effective and compliant coverage, a critical capability as risk profiles evolve.

The Global Network includes a UK-based central service hub that coordinates multinational programmes. This structure allows RSA to streamline coverage across borders, avoid duplication and keep policies compliant, all while maintaining local responsiveness.

CLAIMS AND CONTINUITY: THE TRUST EQUATION

At the heart of RSA’s approach is a belief in continuity, not just of coverage, but of relationship. As more insurers pull back from in-house loss control or devolve claims handling, RSA continues to invest in its own risk and claims infrastructure.

“When something goes wrong, that’s the moment of truth,” Cope says. “Customers need to know their insurer is not just a financial backstop, but a partner who understands their business and has the right people ready to act.”

RSA handles multinational claims through local agents with delegated authority, backed by a UK central team for complex scenarios.

According to the firm, more than 3,000 claims were settled across its global network last year. That consistency is a key differentiator, particularly for customers with critical operations spanning multiple territories.

CLIMATE AND TRADE: THE BIG PICTURE

Looking forward, Cope points to climate resilience and geopolitical disruption as defining themes for the future of insurance. RSA is embedding environmental sustainability into its underwriting, targeting 75% of its energy production portfolio to be low carbon by 2030, while also supporting natural flood management and community resilience projects in the UK.

At the same time, supply chain disruption driven by tariffs, sanctions and trade route instability is pushing RSA’s Specialty Lines team to think more holistically.

“Insurance is becoming more about integration,” Cope says. “We’re bringing marine cargo, project risk, geopolitical exposure and even climate factors into one conversation with customers. That’s how you build resilient programmes that actually work in practice.”

THE ROAD AHEAD

As RSA prepares for its rebrand to Intact Insurance later this year, the direction is clear: focus on global strength, deliver with local expertise and earn longterm trust through consistent partnership. For brokers and customers navigating the next wave of uncertainty, that could be exactly what’s needed.

“Whatever happens in the world next, we’ll be there, close to the customer, clear in our commitments, and always looking for ways to deliver better,” Cope says.