Influential Women in Captive Insurance: Jennifer Gallagher

Jennifer Gallagher, Chief executive officer, Artex North America

A founding member of Artex Risk Solutions, Jennifer Gallagher is the CEO of Artex North America. She is responsible for sales, marketing, product development, talent acquisition, operations, staff and business operations within the US, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. She oversees mergers and acquisitions, professional standards, and new business production.

Gallagher started her career at Gallagher in 1983 as a P&C retail producer. She was promoted to unit manager of Gallagher Risk Manager Services in 1990 which specialised in public housing authorities pooling in the US.

In 1997, Gallagher co-founded Artex with Peter Mullen and David McManus. Upon inception, she drove all onshore operations of Innovative Risk Services, the sales arm of Artex.

She is a proud co-founder and leader of one of the world’s largest and most successful captive management firms. Artex creates and builds alternative risk solutions that help retail brokers build value with their clients.

How did you get started in the captive insurance industry?

I was introduced to the captive insurance industry by my father John P. Gallagher who was at the forefront of Gallagher’s commitment to bringing alternative risk solutions for our clients.

Who inspired you or acted as a mentor in your career?

I have been inspired by many wonderful colleagues throughout my career, but the two people who have acted as mentors throughout my career are Jim Gault and my brother Tom Gallagher. Jim, a lifetime friend and former boss, instilled a sense of “anything is possible” in the alternative risk segment of our industry. He was creative, committed, and impacted my career trajectory tremendously.

The other person is Tom. He was generous not only with sharing his knowledge, he was generous with sharing his prospects! He included me on a self-insurance pooling initiative for public housing authorities that became the pathway to success in my career.

What do you think deters people from entering the world of captives?

There is a perceived complexity of the industry, which is fostered by lack of awareness, regulatory challenges, and limited networking opportunities. I think these are the common barriers to entering the world of captives.

“There is a perceived complexity of the industry, which is fostered by lack of awareness.”

How can mentorship and sponsorship programmes be designed to better support the career development of women?

Career development of women in the captive industry requires tailored mentorship programmes that focus on skill development, networking, and career advancement opportunities. More emphasis on the importance of sponsorships, visibility, and advocacy in fostering gender diversity is needed to support women in captives.

In what ways can companies in the sector create a more inclusive culture that actively promotes gender diversity at all levels?

Companies in the captive insurance sector should promote diversity and inclusion initiatives that promote a culture of equality and respect. Management buy-in and accountability are essential to breaking down unconscious bias, and fostering a diverse community throughout all levels of an organisation.

What challenges are gender-specific to women in the captives industry?

One of the biggest challenges is lack of representation in leadership roles, which is steeped in gender stereotypes throughout the insurance industry, not just in the captives space. Other challenges include work-life balance issues, and unequal opportunities for advancement. These have created significant challenges for women in the sector.

What solutions would you like to see?

Leadership development programmes, flexible work arrangements, inclusive policies, sponsorship opportunities and advocacy for gender equality—all of which are about emphasising the importance of creating a supportive and empowering environment for women in captives.

What are your ambitions?

My ambition is to do what I’ve always done: contribute to the continued growth of Artex, mentor the next generation, continue to invest in learning and development initiatives, and strive to find the right work-life balance for this stage of my career.

Click here to read Captive International’s first Influential Women in Captive Insurance publication, celebrating the women transforming the captive sector through their sustained excellence and leadership.

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