José Morago, Aviva
José Morago juggles the job of group risk director at Aviva with two key roles at industry associations. He chairs the Institute of Risk Management (IRM), a leading professional body for enterprise risk management, and founded the Internal Model Industry Forum (IMIF), a group focusing on the use o f internal models. Prior to Aviva, he was the CRO for Ageas UK and has played senior roles at McKinsey, Moody's, Liberty Mutual and Banco Santander.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I really enjoy being exposed to so many distinct areas of the business, interacting with senior business leaders and decision makers on a day-to-day basis - both in my day job and in my role as chairman of the IRM. This not only makes my job very interesting and varied, but also allows me to deepen my understanding of the risk landscape.
A key part of my role is about understanding the ethics, behaviours and culture of those involved in decision making. At the end of the day, risk management is much more about human behaviour and influence than frameworks and I find this a fascinating subject.
What are the major challenges ahead?
The increasing volatility, complexity and ambiguity of the macro environment highlights the uncertainty around the which, when, where and how of managing global risks and trends, such as cyber security, digital disruption or geopolitical uncertainty. It has also altered notions of preparedness of organisations to manage risks. I believe that managing this ambiguity and uncertainty requires a more dynamic and agile approach to risk management, anchored in the concept of resilience and adaptability.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to emulate your success?
Get immersed in as many projects, topics and decisions as you can. Successful risk professionals understand the business, the commercial pressures and can talk a simple business language. The better-rounded you are, the more likely you are to bring credibility and ability to influence outcomes.