Insurers face 10 CEO priorities in 2026 reset: Oliver Wyman

The report highlights infrastructure sectors like data centres and power as growth areas.

Global insurers are being pushed to move faster as geopolitics, private capital and artificial intelligence reshape the industry.

Insurance executives are rethinking where to invest capital, talent and technology as trade tensions, industrial policy and digital sovereignty rules become bigger operating risks, according to an Oliver Wyman report.

Private capital is also changing the sector through run-off deals, consolidation and asset-heavy platforms. 

At the same time, generative and agentic AI are moving from trials into daily business use, affecting work, decision-making and risk management.

Oliver Wyman said the 2025 priorities for insurers still apply, but CEOs now need clearer strategies, faster execution and more focused capital allocation.

The report identified 10 priorities for insurance CEOs in 2026. These include setting a single company-wide strategy, managing mergers, divestments and reinsurance as one capital portfolio, preparing for geopolitical and regulatory shocks, and deciding how to take part in the asset-management-led insurance model.

It also said insurers should look at the AI infrastructure boom, including data centres, power generation, grid upgrades and cooling systems, as a growth opportunity.

The report added that insurers need to redesign products around changing customer needs, build stronger financial wellness and retirement businesses, and reset partnerships with banks, brokers and platforms around shared results.

Oliver Wyman also said insurance companies must develop an AI-ready workforce, with human resources and technology leaders working together. 

It said AI should handle large-scale tasks and analysis, while people remain responsible for decisions.