Howden bolsters Driving Data capabilities with new chief data officer

Global re/insurance broker  Howden has hired a chief data officer to strengthen its data and technology capabilities, having recently launched its telematics data service in a bid to reduce motor insurance premiums in the UK.

Tommy Ahearne (pictured) has been appointed chief data officer of Howden Driving Data. He has worked in insurance telematics for more than a decade, initially with Wunelli, now part of LexisNexis, and then as a founder of SmartDriverClub. For the last four years, Ahearne has worked with US Software as a Service organisation Calamp, supporting its European businesses such as ‘Tracker’ in the UK.

Howden Drive is a telematics service which is designed to reduce premiums for policyholders, optimise loss ratios for brokers and insurers, and improve road safety.

Jon Law, managing director of Howden Driving Data, said: “Tommy’s appointment reflects Howden Driving Data’s strategy to attract talented individuals to join our business, ensuring that we are in a position to provide telematics data services to support insurers and brokers in managing risk more effectively, and providing outstanding underwriting insight throughout the life of a policy.”

Ahearne, chief data officer of Howden Driving Data, added: “I am really excited to be joining the technology and data team at Howden Driving Data. The application of connected car and telematics data can do so much to ensure correct risk pricing and policy management, so I am keen that we at Howden Driving Data supply those data services in an effective, innovative, and cost effective way to the market.”

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