Making new challenges insurable, without ever diluting expertise: The commercial vision of Liberty Specialty Markets France
In an insurance market caught between the standardisation of access and the growing complexity of risks, Liberty Specialty Markets France holds a clear conviction: differentiation will come from the ability to distribute expertise at scale, without ever diluting it. An insight into a commercial vision championed by Audrey Mondin, Director of Broker Distribution France and Director of the South-East Region.
A market shaped by an apparent contradiction
For about a decade, the global insurance market has been undergoing a profound transformation, marked by an underlying tension.
On one hand, it is tending to standardise: the rise of digital technology, competitive pressure and the pursuit of operational efficiency are driving the simplification of customer journeys, the automation of underwriting and the streamlining of offerings. This dynamic is particularly visible in the SME and middle-market segment, where speed, clarity and accessibility have become central expectations.
On the other hand, the risks and needs of businesses are becoming more complex. The emergence of new perils (cyber, climate, war risk, political violence), the constant evolution of regulations, the internationalisation of operations and the increasing interdependence of risks mean that companies are operating in an environment that is ever more uncertain and demanding.
“Today, clients no longer simply want standardised products; they are looking for genuine solutions capable of supporting their development and securing their operations. And the challenge is clear: differentiation cannot rely on price alone or on simplifying processes. It relies on the ability to reinject value, technical expertise and advice into distribution models that are themselves being modernised,” summarises Audrey Mondin.
The stronghold of the multi-specialist
It is precisely within this dynamic that Liberty Specialty Markets asserts itself as a multi-specialist insurer. A positioning that meets a dual requirement: sharp expertise in specific product lines, and a comprehensive view of risk, which has become essential for clients facing increasingly cross-cutting challenges.
“It is not a question of choosing between specialisation and volume,” stresses Audrey Mondin, “but of making expertise accessible at a greater scale, without diluting it. In practice, the multi-specialist brings together areas of expertise — Liability, Financial Lines, Cyber, among others — supports clients of all sizes with evolving needs, and offers solutions that are modular yet coherent.”
The conviction that follows from this is simple: “The future belongs to those able to distribute added value intelligently. In a world where risks are becoming more diverse, more distinctive and more complex, the answer is not to oversimplify the offering, but to organise its distribution better, so as to make it clear, accessible and operational.”
A strategy rooted in “Invest in Europe”
This commercial vision is fully in line with the group’s strategic plan, “Invest in Europe”, which aims to make Liberty Specialty Markets the benchmark specialist insurer in Europe and to double its portfolio by 2030. A trajectory of profitable and sustainable growth, driven by targeted investment in people, capabilities and tools.
In France, this ambition takes the form of a resolutely multi-channel, multi-segment approach, structured around three complementary distribution channels:
- Binders — a structuring pillar of distribution. Historically positioned in niche segments via wholesale partners and specialist brokers, they now enable Liberty Specialty Markets to broaden its capacity to address the SME segment, by drawing on an in-depth knowledge of specialty markets.
- The digital platform — at the heart of the strategy, to streamline customer journeys, speed up decision times and make products accessible to a wider range of intermediaries.
- The open market — the historic positioning, ensuring an agile and expert approach, directly connected to client needs, in France and internationally.
This strategy is supported by a strong local presence: in 2025, the group notably opened an office in Lyon, bringing its value proposition closer to its brokers.
Focus: a “specialty-first” digital platform
Digitalisation is the accelerating lever behind this ambition. As part of Invest in Europe, Liberty Specialty Markets has launched a new digital quoting platform in France dedicated to D&O risks (directors’ and officers’ liability), enabling brokers to obtain an instant quote, bind new business and renew cover within a single, intuitive environment.
The originality of the approach lies in its guiding principle: whereas most tools on the market target simple, standard risks, Liberty Specialty Markets has chosen a “specialty-first” approach. The platform automatically quotes D&O risks for unlisted companies with turnover of up to €500 million, giving brokers rapid access to broader, more complex risks — the kind that others would struggle to accommodate. In keeping with this commitment to adding value, it also offers the option of underwriting the Intégrale solution, which includes cover for D&O, Fraud and Employment Tribunal Claims risks. In a highly competitive broking market, being able to quote and bind within minutes becomes a genuine advantage with clients.
Built on a low-code, modular architecture, the platform applies Liberty Specialty Markets’ underwriting expertise digitally, with the flexibility needed to adapt to different markets. Designed from the outset to be scalable, it is intended to be rolled out in other countries and extended to other specialty lines.
It perfectly illustrates the conviction of Liberty Specialty Markets France: combining underwriting expertise and digital innovation at scale to enable brokers to serve a wider range of clients, more efficiently — and, in doing so, strengthen the partnership with the distribution network.
Anticipating the needs of tomorrow’s clients
Expectations will continue to evolve around three major areas: more refined personalisation of offerings, including digital ones; greater responsiveness and fluidity in the commercial relationship; and strategic support that goes well beyond the insurance product itself. To meet these expectations, Liberty Specialty Markets is investing in technology, data and the skills of its teams, in order to maintain a high level of advisory service.
A long-term vision
“Our strategy is built for the long term,” concludes Audrey Mondin. “The challenge is not only to capture growth, but to build growth that is sustainable, profitable and differentiating. By combining business expertise, distribution innovation and closeness to its partners, Liberty Specialty Markets France intends to consolidate its position as a benchmark player in its segments.”
