Modernising technology capability for a leading insurer

Context: Technology modernisation and capability for a leading specialty, bespoke, and (re)insurance business

This engagement focused on insurance IT modernisation for a leading specialty, bespoke, and reinsurance business operating in a rapidly evolving insurance industry.

The organisation had grown quickly and profitably, but its operating model and technology structure had not evolved at the same pace. While existing legacy systems and core systems had supported growth to date, there was a clear need to enhance and optimise the technology function, structure and operating model to support future scalability, operational efficiency, and the ability to remain competitive.

Camelot Consulting was initially engaged to facilitate senior leadership workshops exploring how the technology function needed to adapt to support future business priorities, regulatory compliance, and changing market demands. The focus was on leadership, structure, governance, and how technology could continue to act as a driver of business value rather than a constraint.

This marked the start of a wider digital transformation and IT modernisation journey for the business.

What We Did: Independent assurance for IT restructure and digital transformation

As part of this insurance IT modernisation engagement, Camelot provided independent assurance to support decision making during a critical point in the organisation’s modernisation journey.

Camelot Expert Darren Sharp worked closely with the Group COO and senior IT leadership team. Drawing on deep experience across the insurance industry, Darren challenged existing assumptions, tested proposed solutions, and provided pragmatic guidance designed to reduce risk and improve outcomes.

The initial work delivered immediate value and led to further engagement to accelerate modernization activities and support implementation.

The engagement included:

• Assessment of key processes that were missing or underdeveloped, particularly where legacy applications and fragmented data structures created operational risk

• Financial analysis of IT spend, including support costs associated with maintaining legacy systems

• IT resourcing strategy, outlining options to optimise utilisation of key resources

•  and deliver services using a hybrid approach

• Market insight into how most insurers and leading insurers are restructuring technology teams, including the use of cloud based platforms and hybrid cloud models

• Guidance to the Group COO on aligning technology investment with business and customer outcomes

This work created a clear line of sight between technology decisions, customer service operations, and long term competitive advantage.

Resulting business benefits: clarity, prioritisation, and competitive advantage

Camelot delivered a structured assessment of IT capability, alongside a clear, prioritised set of actions aligned to the organisation’s broader digital transformation goals.

Key outcomes included:

• Enhanced IT change management to reduce risk and improve business communication, by embedding appropriate controls and governance

• Dependency mapping to support the transition the team to new ways of working and improve coordination across teams

• Improved alignment with business strategy strategies, ensuring technology decisions supported growth and business priorities

• Clear role definition, identification of capability gaps, and a logical recruitment approach to support future modernisation activities

• Individual support for managers to validate delivery models, including where hybrid approach and cloud based solutions would deliver the most value

The result was a more resilient operating model, improved decision making, and a technology function better positioned to drive innovation, support automation, and adopt emerging capabilities, including Agentic AI, where appropriate.

By addressing the risks associated with existing process, resourcing, and team structures, the business strengthened its ability to respond to market changes, improve customer experience, and maintain a sustainable competitive edge in a demanding and highly regulated insurance market.