Spotlight on…is an initiative of WICI (Women in Credit Insurance) aiming at highlighting females and male allies working in the Trade Credit Insurance business. Every month, a new interview article will be published on ICISA website.
This month in the spotlight is Hannah Lyon-Wall, Director at Acrisure UK – Trade Credit. Hannah has over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, beginning her career as an Analyst at a Lloyd’s and London Market insurer before specialising in trade credit insurance. Since 2016, she has led the team at the specialist trade credit insurance broker FinCred, and continues to head the division following its acquisition by Acrisure in 2024. At Acrisure, she focuses on driving growth and raising awareness of trade credit insurance, delivering tailored solutions that help clients achieve their growth ambitions.
What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?
Can I pick three challenges? These are not exclusive to trade credit but more general challenges facing leaders in the insurance sector.
The first is innovation and technology, it is such a big topic but adapting to and keeping up with the pace of change is a challenge for most businesses. Innovation needs to be part of a business’s DNA.
Recruitment and talent acquisition is the second, this is more pronounced in a specialist sector such as trade credit insurance. The insurance industry is a fantastic industry to have a career, there are a range of roles across various areas and specialisms and within trade credit I love that no two days are the same.
Finally, our complex regulatory environment which involves embracing our regulatory obligations and navigating this complex structure while balancing our need to grow as a business and an industry. Embedding compliance within the culture of a business should support and enhance your client outcomes as a trusted advisor.
What are the biggest challenges facing our industry?
Taking it back to trade credit insurance specifically. Trade Credit insurance is a niche and somewhat unknown coverage, even within the insurance industry. As leaders in the industry we need to be raising awareness of the product, the benefits and value it brings to businesses to grow the industry as a whole.
What do you do to ensure that you continue to grow and develop?
Remain curious. You need to want to grow and develop, there is always more to learn which takes motivation alongside discipline. A mentor recently told me, what got you here will not get you there, you need to have a plan and tactic about where you want to be in the future and what skills you or your team need to get you there.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt during your career?
There are a few lessons that stand out at various stages throughout my career. When I started out, my father, Mark Letheren, always taught me to never close the door on a professional relationship, wherever possible part ways amicably as you never know when your paths will cross again.
In any area of life, the only constant is change, you need to be prepared to adapt and to challenge the status quo rather than accepting that this is just the way we have always done it. A willingness to embrace change and challenge existing processes will help to build resilience to embrace the challenges we face in our industry and achieve more than just the status quo.
