Awais Farooq is a Chief Claims Officer, keynote speaker, and author focused on the intersection of leadership, artificial intelligence, and the future of the insurance industry.

Insurance is often described as a business of risk, but at its core it is a business of trust. When people experience loss, uncertainty, or disruption, they rely on insurers to respond with clarity, fairness, and empathy.

For nearly two decades, Awais has worked at the center of that responsibility. As a senior insurance executive and operational leader, he has guided large-scale claims organizations through transformation, growth, and some of the most complex challenges facing the industry today.

Awais has held senior leadership roles across State Farm, Chubb, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies, and Crawford & Company, leading major claims operations and enterprise transformation initiatives across the insurance ecosystem.

Throughout his career, he has been driven by a simple but powerful belief: technology will transform how insurance operates, but the most important moments in the industry will always require human judgment, leadership, and empathy.

That belief shapes his leadership philosophy, his writing, and his work as a keynote speaker.

Executive Leadership Experience

Awais currently serves as Chief Claims Officer at Venbrook, where he leads claims strategy, operational performance, and modernization initiatives across the organization.

His work focuses on helping insurers adapt to a rapidly evolving environment defined by artificial intelligence, rising customer expectations, and increasing operational complexity.

Prior to Venbrook, Awais held senior leadership roles across several leading insurance organizations.

At State Farm, he played a leadership role in catastrophe response operations during high-severity events, managing teams responsible for helping policyholders recover after large-scale disasters.

At Chubb, he oversaw North America commercial claims operations, managing complex portfolios and large teams responsible for high-severity and specialized claims.

At Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies, he built and scaled the property and casualty claims organization from the ground up, establishing the operating model, governance structures, and talent strategy needed to support long-term growth.

Across these roles, Awais developed a reputation for combining operational discipline with forward-looking strategy, helping organizations modernize while preserving the trust and accountability that define the insurance industry.

A Voice on the Future of Insurance

In addition to his executive leadership work, Awais has emerged as a respected voice on the future of insurance.

He speaks regularly at national conferences, executive leadership forums, and innovation summits where industry leaders gather to examine the forces reshaping the insurance landscape.

His presentations focus on the intersection of technology, workforce evolution, and leadership, offering a pragmatic perspective on how organizations can adopt new capabilities without losing the human qualities that customers depend on most.

His insights have been featured in major industry publications including The Wall Street Journal and PropertyCasualty360, and he is frequently invited to participate in podcasts and panel discussions on insurance innovation, operational transformation, and leadership strategy.

Author

Awais is the author of the forthcoming book:

The Future Isn’t Fully Automated: Why Humans Still Matter in a High-Tech World

The book challenges the prevailing narrative that technology alone will determine the future of the insurance industry.

Instead, it reframes the conversation around how organizations can combine intelligent technology with human expertise to create stronger, more resilient institutions.

While artificial intelligence and automation will reshape workflows and operational models, the most meaningful competitive advantage will continue to come from human capabilities such as judgment, empathy, creativity, and leadership.

Drawing from nearly two decades of real-world leadership experience, the book explores how organizations can build operating models where technology amplifies human capability rather than replacing it.

Commitment to Mentorship and Leadership Development

Awais is deeply committed to supporting the next generation of insurance leaders.

He serves as a National Board Member of the Asian American Insurance Network (AAIN), where he works to expand leadership pathways, mentorship programs, and industry visibility for emerging professionals.

He is widely known within the industry for encouraging open conversations about career growth, leadership development, and the evolving skill sets required to succeed in a technology-driven environment.

His mentorship and contributions to the industry have been recognized through awards including RISE Professionals Mentor of the Year and RISE 35 Under 35.

Education and Professional Credentials

Awais holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Performance Management from Immaculata University and a Master’s degree in Insurance Management from Boston University.

He also holds several professional designations from The Institutes, including CPCU, AIC, and AIC-M, reflecting deep expertise across claims, risk management, and insurance operations.

Personal Perspective

Outside of his formal roles, Awais remains passionate about the broader purpose of the insurance industry.

He believes insurance represents one of the most important social institutions in modern society, helping individuals, businesses, and communities recover when unexpected events occur.

As technology continues to reshape the industry, he believes leaders must ensure that innovation strengthens, not weakens, the trust that customers place in insurers during moments that matter most.

Through his leadership, writing, and speaking, Awais continues to challenge organizations to think differently about how technology and people can work together to build a stronger future for the insurance industry.

Short Bio (For Media & Events)

Awais Farooq is Chief Claims Officer at Venbrook and a nationally recognized voice on insurance transformation, leadership, and the future of work.

With nearly two decades of experience across State Farm, Chubb, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD, and Crawford & Company, he has led large-scale claims operations and enterprise transformation initiatives across the insurance industry.

Awais is the author of the forthcoming book The Future Isn’t Fully Automated: Why Humans Still Matter in a High-Tech World and speaks regularly at industry conferences and executive leadership forums on the intersection of technology, talent, and leadership.